ODOT Compaction Testing - Pages count once per week. 5 Choose ... One-point Proctor test used for soil with ... ODOT Compaction Testing Maximum dry density is indicated in Examples

ODOT Compaction Testing

Peter Narsavage, P.E.

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Compaction Testing

Supplement 1015

Compaction Testing of Unbound Materials


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Compaction Testing

Nuclear gage used to determine

in-place dry density.

Maximum dry density determined from:

One-point Proctor test

or

Test section


Percent Compaction =In-Place Dry Density

Maximum Dry Density

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Nuclear Gage Testing

Always used to

determine in-

place dry density

and in-place

moisture content.

Standard count

once per week

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Choose test location

Choose a representative location.

Have contractor provide a smooth surface


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Make sure it is level and smooth

This looks good.


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Smooth with scraper plate

Use sand to fill surface voids


Take the measurement

In-place dry density and in-place moisture content

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Probe depth

Embankment

probe depth = 8"

Subgrade

probe depth = 12"

Bases, granular material,

test section

use backscatter mode


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Maximum Dry Density

One-point Proctor test used for soil with

more than 35% passing No. 200 sieve and

25% or less retained on the ¾ inch sieve.

Test section used for other material.

granular material, bases,

select granular backfill


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One-point Proctor TestAASHTO T-272

Family of Curves – One Point Method

Method C – ¾ inch sieve and 4-inch

diameter mold

Refers to AASHTO T-99, “Standard

Proctor”

One-point Proctor sample prepared for

every test.


EVERY TEST

Sieve material through ¾ inch sieve.

Save retained stone.

ODOT Typical Moisture-

Density Curves

Moist density from

Proctor test

Moisture content

from nuclear gage

reading

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Aggregate Correction

Aggregate

correction

required if percent

of stone retained

on ¾ inch sieve is

10 to 25% of

sample by weight.



Corrected optimum

moisture content is

determined from table

and corrected

maximum dry density.

116.5

Check moisture content from zero

air-voids curve

This moisture content

must be greater than

the moisture content

from the nuclear

gage.

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Compaction Requirements

For one-point Proctor test, the percent

compaction must be at least …


Maximum Dry

Density

Compaction

Requirement

90 to 104.9 lb/ft³ 102%

105 to 119.9 lb/ft³ 100%

120 lb/ft³ or more 98%

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Test Section

Used for granular material

Less than 35% passing the 200 sieve, or

More than 25% retained on ¾ inch sieve.

Method A Method B Method C


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Test Section Method A

Method A used for materials that have a definite

moisture-density relationship (you can determine

an optimum moisture content)

Place material at optimum moisture (±2%)


Test Section Method A

Make two passes

Take a compaction test

(mark location with paint)

Make another pass

Take another compaction test

Repeat until no further increase or density drops

Verify by making two more passes

and one more compaction test.

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Test Section - Examples


Maximum dry density is indicated in

Examples 1 and 2

Something didn’t work in Example 3, try

another test section

Passes 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Density, lb

/ft³

Example 1 134.0 137.2 139.5 140.9 142.3 142.5 142.5 142.4

Example 2 133.8 134.8 133.5 142.1 146.8 147.2 147.9 148.2 148.3 147.2

Example 3 120.1 128.7 129.3 130.0 132.6 130.1 145.2

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Test Section Method BUsed when material does not have a

definitive moisture-density relationship,

typically fine sands, foundry sands, bottom

ash, fly ash, etc.

Place dry (0 to 3%)

Run test section

Repeat and increase

water content by 2%


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Test Section Method C

Rarely used.

Used for open graded or highly variable

material.

Similar to Method A, but use the average

of three in-place density measurements

for each compaction test.


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Size of Test Section

400 SY for embankment or aggregate bases

40 SY for SGB in MSE walls

10 SY for pipe backfill


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Compaction Requirements

For test section, the percent

compaction must be at least 98%


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Forms

CA-EW-5 – Nuclear Gage Compaction Form

Used for one-point Proctor and test sections

CA-EW-6 – Nuclear Gage Compaction with



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Compaction of Rock

Rock is material too large to be placed in an

8-inch lift.

Must be smaller than 3 feet in size

Compacted with a set number of passes

with a particular roller size.

No compaction testing

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Shale


Compaction

testing could be

any of the

methods.

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Bucket test for shalePlace 6-inch piece in bucket of water for 48 hours.

(C&MS 703.16.D)


Before After

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Bucket test for shale

After 48 hours, break down with hand pressure.

Percent retained on ¾ inch sieve:

Less than 25% – use one-point Proctor method

Between 25 and 75% – use test section method

More than 75% – perform roller test(six passes with a roller that weighs 500 pounds per inch of width)

• More than 40% breaks down – use test section

• Less then 40% breaks down – treat like rock

(no compaction testing)


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Amount of compaction testing


203, 205 one test per 2,000 CY

204, 206 one test per 3,000 SY

304, 411 three tests per 5,000 SY (one per lift)

503 one test every 5th lift

603 one test every 5th lift or one test every 50 LF

840 SGB one test per 300 LF for every lift

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NICET CertificationRequired by SS 878 for contractor supplied

compaction testing.

NICET Level II, Construction Materials

Testing – subfield Soils

First required in the summer of 2006

Alternate qualifications acceptable until

July 1, 2007ODOT Compaction Testing

www.dot.state.oh.us/Divisions/ConstructionMgt

Documents

ODOT Compaction Testing - Pages count once per week. 5 Choose ... One-point Proctor test used for soil with ... ODOT Compaction Testing Maximum dry density is indicated in Examples