Sample Preparation for Proctor, Resilient Modulus, Permanent Deformation and Lime Demand Tests

SAMPLE PREPARATION
Theory
Scope: Before conducting any test, preparation of the sample is the most
important step and should be conducted first. It incorporates sieving, mixing,
compacting and conditioning of the materials processes. This step also includes
making the sample prepared before going to the tests like Proctor test, Resilient
Modulus test, Permanent Deformation test and Lime Demand test.
Definition:
Sample: Sample prepared of soil is submitted for testing to laboratory.
Bulk density: It is defined as the ratio of mass of a material to its volume. Mass
of the material includes solid particles, dust particles, water and air voids.
Dry density: It is defined as the ratio of mass to volume of. To calculate the dry
density of the material undried material after drying to constant mass at 105ºC to
110ºC is used.
Wet density: It is defined as the ratio of mass of a material to its volume of
undried material.
Moisture content: It is expressed in terms of percentage of dry mass, and can
be defined as the mass of water that can be extracted from the soil, by drying to
constant mass at 105ºC to 110ºC.
Optimum moisture content: It can be defined as the optimum soil moisture
content which produces maximum dry unit weight for a particular amount and its
type.
It is mandatory to use the distilled water while conducting test with soil.

Apparatus used
Below list shows the apparatus that has been used for sample preparation:
a. A base plate
b. A 19mm sieve
c. A compaction rammer and mould
d. A measuring cylinder and scrubber
Procedure
a. To prepare the sample material has been occupied from the construction site of
Monash Highway.
b. Prepared samples have been sieved with help of a sieve of 19mm dimension
and the samples have been divided into 6 parts of 6 kg each.
c. Out of 6 prepared samples, 2 are used in Resilient Modulus and Permanent
Deformation test respectively while 4 are used in Proctor test.
d. To study the Proctor test accurately, moisture content have been varied by
addition of different amount of water in the four samples.
e. After final preparation of the sample, they were stored and then kept in plastic
bags until compaction which are air tight.
f. 4 samples prepared for Proctor test were compacted in the mould (as shown in
Figure 1) in 8 layers. The estimated weight of layers was 500gm. Each layer
was given 25 blows.
Conclusion: The soil was taken from the Monash highway sample preparation.
Total of 6 samples were prepared for the study, 4 samples were used for following
methods.
1. Compaction
2. Permanent deformation
3. Resilient modulus
4. Lime deformation

Compaction
Scope:
It is conducted to choose the functionality of the mixtures like soil or cement,
where the apparent size of aggregate does not surpass 40mm, and is basically used
as an element of research. In the present test some standard amount of measure of
work is applied to the standard measure of cement and finally estimation of the
compaction. Workability proved an idea about the capacity of being worked, i.e.,
to control the quantity of water to blend it into the mixture to get uniform quality
throughout the sample.
Definitions:
Compaction: It can be defined as the process to remove the porosity of the mixture
or soil by pressing it by a heavy vehicle.
Workability: It can be defined as a concrete or soil property helps in
determining the useful amount of internal work which is essential in producing full
quality of compaction.
Apparatus: Mould of 105 mm dimension, trowels, Graduated cylinder,
electronic balance, 4.9kg steel rammer and mixing tray.
Procedure:
 To prepare the sample, material has been taken from the development site of
Monash Highway.
 Mould has been kept at the ground level then the grease is applied on the
internal surface of the mould.
 Weight of the empty weight is noted down and denoted as W1.
 Cylinder is fixed on the base with the help of fly nuts and bolts in such a way
that cylinder and hopper central point lies in the vertical line.
 Four samples of the soil have been utilized to conduct the present test. Each
sample possesses different amount of water content compared to others.
 We at that point add first sample soil to the form in 8 layers one by one. Each
layer is to be altered the tamping rod.
 25 times the layers are altered is 25 from a height of 12 inches. Total weight of
the sample is found around 15 kg.
 After the completion of compaction, soil and mould weight is also noted and
denoted as W2. After this mould material is taken out and the soil material is
kept inside a container and then weight of the container is calculated.

 Container is then kept in an oven for 24 hours to calculate the content of water
in the material.
 Similar steps have been followed for other three samples to calculate the mass
of the mould and container.
Calculations
Mass of mould m1 =7216.5
Volume of mould =1.099 cm3
Sample No. Bulk density Dry density
1 2.05 1.85
2 2.13 1.9
3 2.15 1.93
4 2.2 1.92