1. objective
To obtain the graphical relationship of the “dry density’ to “moisture content” in
the form of “compaction curve“, for determining the values of Optimum Moisture Content
(OMC) and Maximum Dry Density (MDD).
2. apparatus required
|
Fig. 1: Proctor Mould & Metal Rammer
Metal mould (volume = 1000 cm3 for 100 mm diameter mould and volume= 2250 cm3 for 150 mm diameter mould
(as per IS:10074-1982) &
Metal rammer conforming to IS: 9189-1979. (weight = 4.9 kg)
|
|
|
Fig. 2: Balance
Balance: one of capacity 10 kg and least count 1g and other of 200 g
capacity and sensitivity 0.01 g
|
|
Fig. 3: Sieve
4.75mm, 19 mm and 37.5 mm I.S. Sieves conforming to IS: 460
(Part 1) – 1985
|
|
Fig. 4: Oven
Thermostatically controlled to maintain temperature between 1050 to 1100C
|
|
Fig. 5: Steel Straight Edge
For trimming the protruded excessive soil of the mould
|
|
Fig. 6: Airtight Container
Taking sample for determination of Moisture Content
|
3. reference
IS-2720 (Part-8):1983 (Reaffirmed- May 2015) “Methods of test for soils:
Determination of water content - dry density relation using heavy compaction”.
4. procedure
-
Take a representative portion of air-dried soil large enough to
provide about 5 kg of material passing 19mm IS sieve (for soils not
susceptible to crushing during compaction) or about 15 kg of material
passing 19mm IS sieve (for soils susceptible to crushing during compaction.
Sieve this on a 19mm IS sieve and the reject the coarse fraction after its
proportion of the total sample has been recorded.
-
Add suitable amount of water with the soil and mix it thoroughly.
For sandy and gravelly soil add 3% to 5% of water. For cohesive soil the
amount of water to be added should be 12% to 16% below the plastic limit.
-
Weigh the mould with base plate attached, to the nearest 1g and record the
weight as W1. Attach the extension collar with the mould. Compact the moist
soil into the mould in five layers of approximately equal mass, each layer being
given 25 blows, with the help of 4.9 kg rammer, dropped from a height of 450mm above
the soil. The blows must be distributed uniformly over the surface of each layer.
The operator shall ensure that the tube of the rammer is kept clear of soil so that
the rammer always falls freely.
-
After completion of the compaction operation, remove the extension collar and level
carefully the top of the mould by means of straightedge. Weigh the mould with the
compacted soil to the nearest 1 g and record this weight as W2.
-
Remove the compacted soil from the mould and place it on the mixing tray. Determine
the water content of a representative sample of the specimen. Record the moisture
content as ‘M’.
-
The remainder of the soil shall be broken up and repeat Steps (iii) to (v) above, by
adding suitable increment of water to the soil. For sandy and gravelly soils the increment
is generally 1% to 2% and for cohesive soils the increment is generally 2% to 4%. The total
number of determinations made shall be at least five, and the moisture contents should be
such that the optimum moisture content, at which the maximum dry density occurs, is within
that range.
-
For compacting soil containing coarse material up to 37.5 mm size, the 2250 cm3 mould should
be used. A sample weighing about 30 kg and passing the 37.5 mm IS sieve is used for the test.
Soil is compacted in five layers, each layer being given 55 blows of the 4.9 kg rammer.
-
NOTE 1 - It is important that the water is mixed thoroughly and adequately
with the soil, since inadequate mixing gives rise to variable test results. This is
particularly important with cohesive souls when adding a substantial quantity of
water to the air-dried soil. With clays of high plasticity, or where hand mixing is
employed, it may be difficult to distribute the water uniformly through the air-dried
soil by mixing alone, and it may be necessary to store the mixed sample in a sealed
container for a minimum period of about 16 hours before continuing with the test.
NOTE 2.- It is necessary to control the total volume of soil compacted, since it
has been found that if the amount of soil struck off after removing the extension is
too great, the test results will be inaccurate.
NOTE 3 - The water added for each stage of the test should be such that a
range of moisture contents is obtained which includes the optimum moisture. In
general, increments of 1 to 2 percent are suitable for sandy and gravelly soils and
of 2 to 4 percent for cohesive soils. To increase the accuracy of the test it is often
advisable to reduce the increments of water in the region of the optimum moisture
content.
5. calculation
-
Bulk density, γm in g/cm3 of each compacted specimen is calculated from
the following equation.
γm = (W2-W1)/Vm
Where,
W1 = Weight in g of mould + base plate
W2 = Weight in g of mould + base plate + soil
Vm = Volume of mould i.e. 1000 cm3.
-
Dry density, γd in g/cm3 of each compacted specimen is calculated from
the following equation.
γd = 100 γm/ (100+M)
Where,
γm = Bulk density of soil in g/cm3.
M = Moisture content of soil
6. graph
The dry densities, γd, obtained in a series of determinations is plotted against
the corresponding moisture content ‘M’. A smooth curve is then drawn through
the resulting points and the position of the maximum on this curve is determined,
which is called maximum dry density (M.D.D). And the corresponding moisture content
is called optimum moisture content (O.M.C.).
Fig. 7 : Plot of dry Unit Weight v/s Moisture Content (Compaction Curve)