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Objective: Forces Between The Soil Particles Improve

The document describes the procedure for determining the optimum moisture content and maximum dry unit weight of soil through a standard compaction test. The test involves compacting soil samples at different moisture contents using a specified method and measuring the dry density of each sample. The optimum moisture content is the value that results in the highest dry density, or maximum dry unit weight. According to the results presented, the optimum moisture content for the soil tested is 10% and the corresponding maximum dry density is 1.71 tonnes per cubic meter.

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Dulanjaya Nayanajith
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85 views8 pages

Objective: Forces Between The Soil Particles Improve

The document describes the procedure for determining the optimum moisture content and maximum dry unit weight of soil through a standard compaction test. The test involves compacting soil samples at different moisture contents using a specified method and measuring the dry density of each sample. The optimum moisture content is the value that results in the highest dry density, or maximum dry unit weight. According to the results presented, the optimum moisture content for the soil tested is 10% and the corresponding maximum dry density is 1.71 tonnes per cubic meter.

Uploaded by

Dulanjaya Nayanajith
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Objective

Determine the optimum moisture content and maximum dry unit weight of given soil by standard
compaction test method.

Concepts and significance

A compaction test is a soil quality test used to assess the level of compaction which can occur in
the soil on a site. Compaction tests are commonly performed as part of a geotechnical profile of a
building site. They may also be performed as part of a geotechnical profile of a building site.
They may also be performed to learn more about a soil in a particular area, whether or not the
area is slated for development.

Compaction can be generally defined as the densification of soil by the removal of air and
rearrangement of soil particles through the addition of mechanical energy. The energy exerted by
compaction forces the soil to fill available voids, and the additional frictional forces between the
soil particles improve the mechanical properties of the soil. Because a wide range of particles are
needed in order to fill all available voids, well-graded soils tend to compact better than poorly
graded soils.

The degree of compaction of a soil can be measured by its dry unit weight(𝛾𝑑 ). When water is
added to the soil, it functions as a softening agent on the soil particles, causing them to slide
between one another more easily. At first, the dry unit weight after compaction increases as the
moisture content (𝜔) increases, but after the optimum moisture content ( 𝜔𝑜𝑝𝑡 ) percentage is
exceeded, any added water will result in a reduction in dry unit weight because the pore water
pressure (pressure of water in-between each soil particle) will be pushing the soil particles apart,
decreasing the friction between them.

Apparatus and accessories

Cylindrical metal mould having internal diameter of 105 mm and effective height of 115.5 mm
fitted with a detachable baseplate and removable collar assembly of 60 mm high, hammer of
weight 2.7 kilogram, 19mm sieve, soil mixing tools, spatula, graduated jar, large mixing pan,
weighing machine, oven, small containers, distilled water.

Procedure

1. The sample is prepared in accordance with AS 1289.1.1


2. The prepared sample is screened over a 19mm sieve and all adhering
fines are removed. The percentage retained mass of material passed
through 19mm is calculated from the following equation.

100𝑚°
𝑃° =
𝑀

Where

𝑃° = 𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑏𝑦 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑓 19.0𝑚𝑚 (𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑠𝑖𝑧𝑒)𝑚𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑙

𝑚° = 𝑤𝑒𝑡 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑓 + 19.0𝑚𝑚 (𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑠𝑖𝑧𝑒 )𝑚𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑙, 𝑖𝑛 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑚𝑠

𝑀= wet mass of total sample, before screening, in grams

3. The given material is passed through 19mm sieve therefore,


corresponds to the sieve test mould of diameter 105mm is selected.
4. Split out four or more representative portions of the sieved soil, each
of sufficient quantity to produce a compacted volume in excess of the
volume of the mould
5. Take the portion of soil as prepared in step 4. Thoroughly mix each
portion, adding or removing water so that the optimum moisture
content is judged to be straddled. Use essentially equal increments of
moisture between portions and ensure that the moisture steps are not
excessive for the soil type.
6. After the addition or removal of water, allow the soil test portion to
cure in a sealed container for a period as applicable for the soil type.
Record the times of commencement and completion of curing.
7. Clean the mould, collar and baseplate, a light film of lubricant may be
used. Inspect and clean the hammer and ensure that it moves freely in
the guide.
8. Determine the mass (𝑚1 ) of the mould, plus baseplate. When moulds
have the baseplate attached to the compaction block, determine the
mass of the mould alone.
9. Assemble the mould, collar and baseplate and place the assembled on
the rigid foundation.
10. Compact the specimen as follows (the procedure depends upon the
size of the materials)
(a)Testing material passing the 19mm sieve only (Mould A). Take
one portion of soil, mix it thoroughly and compact it into the
mould in three layers, so that the compacted height of the soil in
the mould in 38mm to 43mm in the first layer, 77mm to 82mm in
second layer and 116mm to 120mm in third layer. Specimens that
do not meet these tolerances shall be discarded. Material from a
previously compacted specimen shall not be re-used. Compact
each layer by 25 uniformly distributed blows of the hammer falling
freely from a height of 300mm. use only sufficient soil, which is
representative of the portion, to meet the layer heights specified
above.
11. Free the material from around the inside of the collar and then
carefully remove the collar
12. Trim the surface of the specimen while the mould is still attached
to the baseplate
13. Determine the mass (𝑚2 ) of the mould and soil, with baseplate if
appropriate
14. Immediately remove the soil specimen from the mound and either
use the whole specimen or obtain a representative sample from the
full height of the specimen. Determine the moisture content (w) of
this sample in accordance with AS1289.2.1.1 for which a correlation
has been established in accordance with AS 1289.2.3.1.
15. Discard the used soil. Soil from a previously compacted specimen
shall not be re-used.
16. repeat steps 7 to 15 excluding step 8, with the other portion of
prepared soil to obtain at least four points, at least two of which shall
be dryer, and one wetter, then optimum moisture content, to
satisfactory define the dry density/moisture content relation.

Calculation and test report

a) for each specimen, density of wet soil (𝜌), from the following
equation is calculated:
(𝑚2 −𝑚1 )
(𝜌)=
𝑉

Where
(𝜌)= density of wet soil, in tonnes per cubic meter
𝑚2 = mass of mould plus baseplate plus specimen, in grams
𝑚1 = mass of mould plus baseplate, in grams
𝑉= measured volume of mould, in cubic centimeters

b) for each specimen, density of dry soil (𝜌𝑑 ) from the following
equation:
100𝜌
𝜌𝑑 =
100 + 𝑤
Where
𝜌𝑑 = density of dry soil, in tonnes per cubic meter
𝜌= density of wet soil, in tonnes per cubic meter
𝑤= moisture content of the specimen, in percent

Determination 1 2 3 4 5
no.
Volume of 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000
mould
Mass of 4224.4 4224.4 4224.4 4224.4 4224.4
mould(g)
, 𝑚1
Mass of 5887.5 5937.8 6011.5 6060.1 6108.74
mould +
compacted (g)
soil, 𝑚2
Mass of 1663.1 1713.4 1787.1 1835.7 1884.3
compacted
soil (g) 𝑀 =
𝑚2 − 𝑚1
Dry density of 1.663 1.713 1.787 1.835 1.884
wet soil, 𝜌
Water content 0 2.5 5 7.5 10
𝑤(%)
Dry density, 1.663 1.671 1.702 1.707 1.713
100𝜌
𝜌𝑑 =
100 + 𝑤

Graph
Dry density
1.72

1.71

1.7

1.69
Dry density

1.68

1.67

1.66
0 2 4 6 8 10 12

Optimum moisture content= 10% (from graph)

Maximum dry density= 1.71 (correspond to 10%)

Discussion

As water is added to a soil (at low moisture content) it becomes easier


for the particles to move past one another during the application of the
compacting forces. As the soil compacts the voids are reduced and this
causes the dry unit weight (or dry density) to increase. Initially then, as
the moisture content increases so does the dry unit weight. However, the
increase cannot occur indefinitely because the soil state approaches the
zero air voids line which gives the maximum dry unit weight for a given
moisture content. Thus as the state approaches the no air voids line
further moisture content increases must result in a reduction in dry unit
weight. As the state approaches the no air voids line a maximum dry unit
weight is reached and the moisture content at this maximum is called the
optimum moisture content.

Increased compactive effort enables greater dry unit weights to be


achieved which because of the shape of the no air voids line must occur
at lower optimum moisture contents. It should be noted that for moisture
contents greater than the optimum the use of heavier compaction
machinery will have only a small effect on increasing dry unit weights.
For this reason it is important to have good control over moisture
content during compaction of soil layers in the field.

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