<< Click to Display Table of Contents >> Navigation:  Chapter 9 Geotechnical Data Management > Geotechnical Tests > Entering Test Data > Soil and Aggregates Tests > Compaction

This test method determines the relationship between molding water content and dry unit weight of a soil or soil-aggregate material. The compaction curve determined from this test provides the optimum moisture content and maximum dry unit weight of sampled material. These results are often used in the specification of required engineering properties and for providing quality control during construction.

 

Data entry and calculations for this test are performed on the Compaction form described in the next section. After the data and calculations have been performed the results are displayed in a test report as described in the reporting section below. The format of this report is controlled by the geotechnical template used for the test.

 

The methodology and calculations for this test adhere to "ASTM D698-12 Standard Test Method for Laboratory Compaction Characteristics of Soil Using Standard Effort (12,400 ft-lbf/ft³ (600 kN-m/m³))" and "ASTM D1557-12 Standard Test Method for Laboratory Compaction Characteristics of Soil Using Modified Effort (56,000 ft-lbf/ft³ (2,700 kN-m/m³))". For more detailed information on the methodology and calculations please review these standards.