Experiment No.

9
COMPACTION TEST

1. Objective(s):
The activity aims to introduce the concept of compaction and the relationship of moisture content
to the dry unit weight of the soil.
2. Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs):
The students shall be able to:
 Connect the significance of compaction test in other properties of soil.
 determine the relative density of soils by compaction test.
 describe the use of water in relation to the dry density of the soil.

3. Discussion:

Soil Compaction is generally the cheapest method of improving the engineering properties of the soil. In
compaction, the soil solids are forced to a tighter state in order to achieve a higher unit weight and reduce
the air voids.

The process of compaction is better understood by comprehension of the behavior of a soil mass under
compaction. In a dry condition, the frictional resistance of the soil would resist granular rearrangement;
therefore, the compacting force is not quite effective. Introduction of a lubricant such as a predetermined
amount of water is mixed, would then be absorbed by soil particles, forming minutely thin and coherent
water films around the particles. In this condition, the soil particles will readily move closer together under
the compacting pressure due to the lubricating effect of water and reduced frictional resistance. When a
certain amount of water, called the optimum, has been added, the compacting force completely overcomes
the frictional resistance and maximum density of the soil mass is attained.

4. Resources:

1. Compaction mold and hammer

2. Moisture sprayer
3. No. 4 sieve
4. Rubbed tipped pestle
5. Scoop
6. Spatula
7. Large mixing pan
8. Balance
9. Drying oven

5. Procedure:

1. Weigh the empty mold.

2. Obtain a 6 lb. representative specimen of the soil sample to be tested. Break sample with the use
of rubber pestle and pass through No. 4 sieve.
3. Form a 2 to 3 inch layer using the soil passing though No. 4 sieve.
4. Press soil until it is smooth and compact it with a specific number of evenly distributed blows of the
hammer, using a one foot drop. Rotate the hammer to ensure a uniform distribution of blows.
5. Repeat the same procedure for the second and third layers seeing to it that a uniform distribution
of blows.
6. After compaction of the third layer the soil should be slightly above the top rim of the mold.
7. Remove the collar and trim off the soil from the top of the mold. Tart trimming along the center and
work towards end of the mold.
8. After the soil has been made even with the top of the mold and all base soil cleaned from the
outside, weigh the cylinder sample to 10 lb.
9. Remove the soil from cylinder and obtain a representative sample of 50gm for a water content
determination. The water content sample should be made up with specimens from the top, middle
and bottom of the compacted soil.
10. Break up by hand then removed from the cylinder and remix with the original sample and raise its
water content by 3% by adding water to the sample with sprayer. Mix the soil thoroughly. By
weighing the sprayer before and after the spraying, the amount of water added is known.
11. Keep repeating the procedures for 5 to six times until soil is sticky. Use 3% approximate water
content.
12. Compute dry density of each sample and plot the compaction curve. Determine the Optimum
Moisture Content of the sample.
6. Data and Results:

Determination of Optimum Moisture Content

Description Sample 1 Sample 2 Sample 3
Weight of mold
4476 gm 4607 gm 4415 gm
(Wm)
Weight of mold
+ compacted 5672 gm 5770 gm 5286 gm
soil (Wm+s)
Weight of
compacted soil 1196 gm 1163 gm 871 gm
(Ws)
Volume of
904.78 cm3 1232 cm3
Mold
Wet Unit
1.32 gm/cm3 0.94 gm/cm3
Weight (wet)
Wt of tin cup
338 gm 23 gm
(Wc)
Wt. of tin cup +
Wet Soil 389 gm 73 gm
(Wc+ws)
Wt. of tin cup
and dry soil 378 gm 69 gm
(Wc+dc)
Wt. of water
11 gm 4 gm
(Ww)
Wt. of dry soil
40 gm 46 gm
(Wds)
Water Content
26.83% 8.7%
()
Dry unit
0.97 gm/cm3 0.89 gm/cm3
weight (dry)
Optimum
Moisture
Content
(OMC)

Compaction Curve:
 Sample 1;
1.32kg/m3
; 26.83%
Sample 2;
0.94kg/m3
; 8.7%

7. Conclusion:

The students conclude that Soil Compaction is the cheapest method of improving the
engineering properties of the soil. In compaction, the soil solids are forced to a tighter state in order
to achieve a higher unit weight and reduce the air void ratio resulting in the reduction of soil volume
with no change in the water content and in the size of the individual soil particles. It tends to increase
soil shear strength and its bearing capacity by applying compaction. In addition, the compaction
application could lessen subsequent settlement under working loads and reduce soil permeability to
be more difficult for water to flow through.
Base on the experiment, the students also conclude that the values they determined in a
compaction test are, the optimum moisture content and maximum dry unit weight. To determine and
establish a relationship between the dry unit weight and the water contents for the soil, the students
plotted the compaction curve with the use of gathered data. The values of optimum water content
could be determine from the compaction curve.

8. Assessment (Rubric for Laboratory Performance):

 BEGINNER ACCEPTABLE PROFICIENT
CRITERIA SCORE
1 2 3
I. Laboratory Skills
Members
Members do not Members always
Manipulative occasionally
demonstrate needed demonstrate needed
Skills demonstrate needed
skills. skills.
skills
Members are unable Members are able to Members are able to
Experimental
to set-up the set-up the materials set-up the material with
Set-up
materials. with supervision. minimum supervision.
Members
Members do not
occasionally Members always
demonstrate
Process Skills demonstrate demonstrate targeted
targeted process
targeted process process skills.
skills.
skills.
Members do not Members follow
Safety Members follow safety
follow safety safety precautions
Precautions precautions at all times.
precautions. most of the time.
II. Work Habits
Time
Members do not Members finish on Members finish ahead of
Management /
finish on time with time with incomplete time with complete data
Conduct of
incomplete data. data. and time to revise data.
Experiment
Members have
Members do not
defined Members are on tasks
know their tasks and
responsibilities most and have defined
have no defined
Cooperative of the time. Group responsibilities at all
responsibilities.
and Teamwork conflicts are times. Group conflicts
Group conflicts have
cooperatively are cooperatively
to be settled by the
managed most of managed at all times.
teacher.
the time.
Clean and orderly
Clean and orderly
Messy workplace workplace with
Neatness and workplace at all times
during and after the occasional mess
Orderliness during and after the
experiment. during and after the
experiment.
experiment.
Members require
Ability to do Members require Members do not need to
occasional
independent supervision by the be supervised by the
supervision by the
work teacher. teacher.
teacher.
Other Comments/Observations: Total Score
(𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑆𝑐𝑜𝑟𝑒)
𝑅𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 =
24
× 100

9. References
Murthy, V.N.S. (2011). Textbook of Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering. Singapore: Alken
Company

American Society for Testing and Materials (2000). Standard Test Method for Laboratory Compaction
Characteristics using Modified Effort (D-1557). Pennsylvania: ASTM International
 METHODOLOGY

1 – Weigh the empty mold 2 – Obtain a 6lb soil sample,

equivalent to 2730 gram mass

3 – Break the sample and pass through No. 4 sieve

4 - Press soil until it is smooth and compact it with a specific number

of evenly distributed blows of the hammer, using a one foot drop.
Repeat the same procedure for the second and third layers seeing
to it that a uniform distribution of blows.
 5 – After compaction, remove the collar
and trim of the soil from the top of the
mold.

6 – Remove the soil from the cylinder and

obtain a representative sample for a water
content determination. The water content
sample should be made up of specimens
from the top, middle, and bottom of the
compacted soil.

7 – Doing so, break up the representative sample by hand and raise its water content by 3% by adding
water to the sample with sprayer. Mix the soil thoroughly. Keep repeating the procedure until soil become
sticky.
 SAMPLE 1

Weight of mold Weight of mold + compacted soil (Wm+s)

Wt of tin cup (Wc) Wt. of tin cup + Wet Soil (Wc+ws)

Weight of compacted soil (Ws) – [Wm+s –

Wm]
Weight of dry soil (Wds) – [Wc+dc – Wc]
Ws = 5672 − 4476
= 378 − 338 = 40𝑔𝑚
Ws = 1196 gm
Water content (𝝎) [Ww/Wd *100]
Volume of mold [𝜋𝑟 2 ℎ]; r=6cm, h=8cm
11
= 𝜋(62 )(8) = 904.78𝑐𝑚3 = 𝑥100 = 26.83%
40
Wet unit weight (𝛾𝑤𝑒𝑡 ) – [Ws/ V] 𝑊𝑠 (1−𝜔)
1196 Dry Unit weight (𝜸𝒅𝒓𝒚 ) – [ ]
𝑉
= = 1.32𝑔𝑚/𝑐𝑚3 1196(1 − 0.2683)
904.78
= = 0.97𝑔𝑚/𝑐𝑚3
904.78
Weight of water (Ww) – [Wc+ws – Wc+dc]
= 389 − 378 = 11𝑔𝑚
 SAMPLE 2

Weight of mold Weight of mold + compacted soil (Wm+s)

Wt of tin cup (Wc) Wt. of tin cup + Wet Soil (Wc+ws)

Weight of compacted soil (Ws) – [Wm+s –

Wm]
Weight of dry soil (Wds) – [Wc+dc – Wc]
Ws = 5770 − 4607
= 69 − 23 = 46𝑔𝑚
Ws = 1163 gm
Water content (𝝎) [Ww/Wd *100]
Volume of mold [𝜋𝑟 2 ℎ]; r=6cm, h=10.89cm
4
= 𝜋(62 )(10.89) = 1232𝑐𝑚3 = 𝑥100 = 8.7%
46
Wet unit weight (𝛾𝑤𝑒𝑡 ) – [Ws/ V] 𝑊𝑠 (1−𝜔)
1163 Dry Unit weight (𝜸𝒅𝒓𝒚 ) – [ ]
𝑉
= = 0.94𝑔𝑚/𝑐𝑚3 1163(1 − 0.087)
1232 = = 0.89𝑔𝑚/𝑐𝑚3
1232
Weight of water (Ww) – [Wc+ws – Wc+dc]
= 73 − 69 = 4𝑔𝑚
 SAMPLE 3

Weight of mold Weight of mold + compacted soil (Wm+s)

Wt of tin cup (Wc) Wt. of tin cup + Wet Soil (Wc+ws)

Weight of compacted soil (Ws) – [Wm+s –

Wm]
Weight of dry soil (Wds) – [Wc+dc – Wc]
Ws = 5286 − 4415
= 378 − 338 = 40𝑔𝑚
Ws = 871 gm
Water content (𝝎) [Ww/Wd *100]
Volume of mold [𝜋𝑟 2 ℎ]; r=6cm, h=8cm
11
= 𝜋(62 )(8) = 904.78𝑐𝑚3 = 𝑥100 = 26.83%
40
Wet unit weight (𝛾𝑤𝑒𝑡 ) – [Ws/ V] 𝑊𝑠 (1−𝜔)
1196 Dry Unit weight (𝜸𝒅𝒓𝒚 ) – [ ]
𝑉
= = 1.32𝑔𝑚/𝑐𝑚3 1196(1 − 0.2683)
904.78 = = 0.97𝑔𝑚/𝑐𝑚3
904.78
Weight of water (Ww) – [Wc+ws – Wc+dc]
= 389 − 378 = 11𝑔𝑚