Standard Proctor Test
Standard Proctor Test
SOIL MECHANICS
SIGNATURE………….
MAR 2024
STANDARD PROCTOR TEST EXPERIMENT
OBJECTIVE
To determine the relationship between moisture content and soil density under a standard method of
compaction.
THEORY
Conduction od Proctor’s compaction test is based on the assessment of water content and dry density
relationship of a soil for a specified compactive effort. The mechanical process of densification
through reduction of air voids in the soil mass is called compaction. The amount of mechanical
energy which is applied to the soil mass is the compactive effort. There are many methods to
compact soil in the field, and some examples include tamping, kneading, vibration and static load
compaction. This test will employ the tamping or impact compaction method using the type of
equipment & methodology developed by R. R. Proctor in 1933, hence, the test is also known as the
Proctor test.
Usually, two types of test are performed:
1. The Standard Proctor test and
2. The Modified Proctor tests.
Our main concern is the Standard Proctor Test, the soil is compacted by a 2.495kg rammer falling at
a distance of 300mm into a soil filled mould. The mould is filled with three layers of soil and each
layer is subjected to 25 blows of rammer.
The bulk density in g/ml of each compacted specimen shall be calculated from the equation:
The dry density in g/ml of each compacted specimen shall be calculated from the equation:
γ
Alternatively, γd = where; γd → dry density
1+ w
γ → wet density
w → water content
APPARATUS
PROCEDURE
a) A representative sample was dried and passed through a 20mm sieve and 2.5kg of the passing
material retained.
b) The mould and base plate were weighed without the collar and internal dimensions taken for
volume computation.
c) The collar was then fixed and the mould placed on an even solid base.
d) A small amount of water was added to the soil sample and mixed in the sand trays. A quantity of
that soil was placed in the mould such that when compacted it occupies a little over one third of the
height of the mould body.
e) 25 blows were applied by a rammer falling from 300mm above the soil. They were distributed
uniformly over the surface ensuring the rammer falls freely without obstruction.
f) A second quantity of moist soil was placed in the mould such that when compacted, it occupies a
little over two thirds of the height of the mould.
g) The above procedure was repeated until the mould body was filled with soil.
h) The extension was removed and excess soil stroke off using a straight edge then weighed together
with the base plate.
i) The compacted soil in the tray was extruded on the metal tray and a representative sample of it was
taken for moisture content determination.
j) The remainder of soil was broken down and mixed with the remainder of the prepared test sample.
Suitable water amount was added to the soil tray and the soil mixed thoroughly.
k) The above steps were repeated to ensure at least 5 values.
RESULTS / CALCULATIONS
S Mass of Mass of can Mass of can Mass of soil Mass of pore Water
No. empty + mass of + dry soil solids (Ms)g water (Mw)g content W
can moist soil (McDs)g %
(Mc)g (McMs)g
1 60 150 145 85 5 5.88
4 45 100 99 54 1 1.85
1.185
γw= =1185 kg/mᵌ
0.001
1.325
γw= =1325 kg /mᵌ
0.001
1.35
γw= =1350 kg /mᵌ
0.001
1.66
γw= =1660 kg /mᵌ
0.001
1.635
γw= =1635 kg /mᵌ
0.001
5.47−4.285
γd = =172.24 kg/mᵌ
(1+5.88)×0.001
γ
Alternatively, γd =
1+ w
1185
γd = =172.238 kg /mᵌ
1+ 5.88
A COMPACTION CURVE
250
200
150
Dry density
100
50
0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45
Water content
SOURCES OF ERRORS
Inconsistent compaction resulting to varying densities throughout the sample.
Incomplete compaction resulting to air voids in the sample thus lower densities.
Variations in composition and particle size distribution of the soil leading to non-uniform
compaction.
REFERENCES
i. Hirebelaguly Shivaprakash, S., & Sridharan, A. (2021). Correlation of compaction characteristics
of standard and reduced Proctor tests. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers-
Geotechnical Engineering, 174(2), 170-180.
ii. Hussain, A., & Atalar, C. (2020, March). Estimation of compaction characteristics of soils using
Atterberg limits. In IOP Conference series: Materials science and engineering (Vol. 800, No. 1, p.
012024). IOP Publishing.
iii. Mujtaba, H., Farooq, K., Sivakugan, N., & Das, B. M. (2020). Laboratory and field investigations
in granular soils to correlate relative density, relative compaction and grain size. Journal of the
South african institution of civil engineering, 62(2), 12-21.