Compaction Test Analysis: Civil Engineering Lab Report 2

This lab report details a Standard Proctor Compaction Test conducted to determine the compaction characteristics of a soil sample. The experiment involves compacting soil at varying moisture contents and measuring the resulting dry unit weight. The report outlines the apparatus used, including the compaction mold, rammer, and sieves, and describes the step-by-step procedure followed, including the addition of water, compaction in layers, and determination of moisture content. Calculations are presented for moist unit weight, moisture content, and dry unit weight. The results are presented in a data sheet and a compaction curve, from which the optimum moisture content and maximum dry unit weight are determined. The report also discusses the degree of saturation, potential errors during testing, and the significance of compaction in civil engineering applications, such as increasing shear strength and reducing permeability. References to relevant resources are also included.

Running head: LAB REPORT 1
Civil Engineering
First Name Last Name
Institution

LAB REPORT 2
Compaction is the demonstration of diminishing the measure of air in a dirt by mechanical
methods. This decrease in the volume of air prompts a densification of the dirt, expands the dirt
unit weight, builds the shear quality, diminishes future settlement, and diminishes porousness.
These enhancements to the dirt structure become significant for some, respectful building forms.
The measure of compaction is evaluated as far as the dry unit weight of the dirt, in spite of the
fact that compaction is frequently directed on soils with some dimension of water content
because of the greasing up properties which enable the dirt particles to be orchestrated in a
denser setup. For a given comp active exertion, there is a specific dampness content at which the
dry unit weight is the best and the compaction is ideal. This dampness content is known as the
ideal dampness content, and the related dry unit weight is known as the most extreme dry unit
weight.
Apparatus
Graduated bar, compaction mold, oven, spatula, rammer, desiccator, detachable base plate
and collar, straight edge, weighing balance, IS sieve 4.75 mm, etc.
Calculations
Weigh the mold and record the weight as W1
Take the weight of the mold plus most soil and record as W2
Calculate the weight of the moist soil, as W2-W1
Calculate the moist unit weight, W 2−W 1
30 gm/c m3
Take the weights of the moisture cans
The weight of moist soil and can is taken as W4
Mass of can and dry soil taken as W5
From the respective weights, moisture content is calculated as follows W 4−W 5
W 5× W 3 × 100
Dry weight of compaction attained as yd= yt
1+(1+ w
100 )
gm /c m3
Observations and calculations
Data sheet for compaction test

LAB REPORT 3
Diameter of the mold=100.4 mm
Weight of the mold=4268.2 g
Height of the mold=110.6 mm
Volume of the mold= π × 50.22 × 110.6=875613.4701 mm3=875.6 c m3
Specific gravity of solids, G= 2.65
Bulk Density p= M
V = 4268.2
875.6 =4.87 g /c m3
Calculation and reporting of results
Test # 1 2 3 4 5
1. Weight of the
mold without
the base and
collar, W1,
(gm)
5700 5740 5800 5840 5900
2. Weight of the
mold + moist
soil, W2 (gm)
5644.7 5942.9 10379.2 10451.7 10538.2
3. Weight of the
moist soil,
W2-W1, (gm)
1376.5 1674.7 6111.0 6183.2 6270
4. Moist unit
weight, γ =
[(W2-
W1)/(1/30)],
(gm/cm3)
45.9 55.8 203.7 206.1 209.0
5. Moisture can
number
A1 B2 C3 C5 A2
6. Weight of
moisture can,
W3, (gm)
14.17 14.31 14.45 14.02 13.91

LAB REPORT 4
7. Mass of can +
moist soil,
W4, (gm)
52.5 57.65 53.5 56.8 68.5
8. Mass of can +
dry soil, W5,
(gm)
51.9 55.9 50.9 52.7 62.2
9. Moisture
content:
w(%)= [(W4-
W5)/(W5W3)
] x 100
1.6 4.2 7.3 10.4 13.0
10. Dry unit
weight of
compaction:
γd (gm/cm3)
= γt
/[1+(w/100)]
15.2 15.8 16.42 16.83 17.46
Unit weight of moist soil= [mass of wet soil x gravity]/volume
¿ [ (5700−4220 ) x 9.81 ]
944 =15.38
Water content= [(mass of can +wet soil)- (mass of can +dry soil)]/ mass of can +dry soil –(mass
of can)
¿ [ 52.5−51.9 ]
51.9−14.2 x 100=1.6 %
Dry unit weight yd= ym
1+ w = 15.4
1+0.016 =15
100% saturation =
GsxG
1+ ( w+Gs ) 1
S
= [ 9.81 X 2.23 ]
1+0.016 X 2.23
1
=21.1
The compaction graph for this soil specimen, was produced from the information in Table 1. The
most extreme dry unit weight and ideal dampness substance would then be able to be graphically

LAB REPORT 5
gotten, 15.3 and 1.6% separately. As appeared in these data, one can reason that an issue
happened amid test testing since this point turned into an anomaly. The mistake could have
developed from human blunder. See figure 1
Figure 1. compaction curve
From the table, optimum moist soil unit weight is calculated as follows
yd= ym
1+optimum water content =15.3= ym
1+ 0081
Hence, ym=16.51
Optimum moisture content, yd=
Gs ×Ym
1+ optimum w × Gs
S
= 16.5 ×2.23
1+ 0.0810× 2.23
S
=¿12.8%
The Degree of Saturation at most extreme dry unit weight was determined using conditions
calculated above. An estimation of 12.8% was achieved.
By increasing the most extreme dry unit weight of 15.27 kN/m3 by 0.92, a >92% estimation of
14.05 kN/m3 and a related scope of water substance of 0 to 27% were dictated by expanding the

LAB REPORT 6
curvature. Compaction is the procedure of densification of soil by decreasing air voids. The level
of compaction of a given soil is estimated regarding its dry weight. The dry weight is greatest at
the ideal water content. A curve is drawn between the water content and the dry weight to get the
most extreme dry thickness and the ideal water content hence the test.

LAB REPORT 7
References
Compaction Test - Proctor Test [online], 2018. [online]. Available from:
http://civilengineering-notes.weebly.com/compaction-test---proctor-test.html
[Accessed 16 May 2019].
Kurt, J., 2017. Standard Test Methods for Laboratory Compaction ... [online].
Available from: https://water.ca.gov/LegacyFiles/regulations/docs/ASTM D1557
Lab Compaction of Soil.pdf [Accessed 16 May 2019].
Maximum Dry Density of Soil and Optimum Moisture Content Test [online],
2018. [online]. Available from: https://theconstructor.org/geotechnical/soil-
maximum-dry-density-optimum-moisture-content/18426/ .
modified Proctor compaction test, 2014. Dictionary Geotechnical
Engineering/Wörterbuch GeoTechnik, 884–884.
Standard Proctor test, 2014. Dictionary Geotechnical Engineering/Wörterbuch
GeoTechnik, 1297–1297.
Test Methods for Laboratory Compaction Characteristics of Soil Using Modified
Effort (56,000 ft-lbf/ft3 (2,700 kN-m/m3)), n.d., 56.