ASTM D698-12(2021)
(Test Method)Standard Test Methods for Laboratory Compaction Characteristics of Soil Using Standard Effort (12,400 ft-lbf/ft3 (600 kN-m/m3))
Standard Test Methods for Laboratory Compaction Characteristics of Soil Using Standard Effort (12,400 ft-lbf/ft<sup>3</sup> (600 kN-m/m<sup>3</sup>))
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 Soil placed as engineering fill (embankments, foundation pads, road bases) is compacted to a dense state to obtain satisfactory engineering properties such as, shear strength, compressibility, or permeability. In addition, foundation soils are often compacted to improve their engineering properties. Laboratory compaction tests provide the basis for determining the percent compaction and molding water content needed to achieve the required engineering properties, and for controlling construction to assure that the required compaction and water contents are achieved.
5.2 During design of an engineered fill, shear, consolidation, permeability, or other tests require preparation of test specimens by compacting at some molding water content to some unit weight. It is common practice to first determine the optimum water content (wopt) and maximum dry unit weight (γd,max) by means of a compaction test. Test specimens are compacted at a selected molding water content (w), either wet or dry of optimum (wopt) or at optimum (wopt), and at a selected dry unit weight related to a percentage of maximum dry unit weight (γd,max). The selection of molding water content (w), either wet or dry of optimum (wopt) or at optimum (wopt) and the dry unit weight (γd,max) may be based on past experience, or a range of values may be investigated to determine the necessary percent of compaction.
5.3 Experience indicates that the methods outlined in 5.2 or the construction control aspects discussed in 5.1 are extremely difficult to implement or yield erroneous results when dealing with certain soils. 5.3.1 – 5.3.3 describe typical problem soils, the problems encountered when dealing with such soils and possible solutions for these problems.
5.3.1 Oversize Fraction—Soils containing more than 30 % oversize fraction (material retained on the 3/4-in. (19-mm) sieve) are a problem. For such soils, there is no ASTM test method to control their compaction and very few laboratories are equip...
SCOPE
1.1 These test methods cover laboratory compaction methods used to determine the relationship between molding water content and dry unit weight of soils (compaction curve) compacted in a 4 or 6-in. (101.6 or 152.4-mm) diameter mold with a 5.50-lbf (24.5-N) rammer dropped from a height of 12.0 in. (305 mm) producing a compactive effort of 12 400 ft-lbf/ft3 (600 kN-m/m3).
Note 1: The equipment and procedures are similar as those proposed by R. R. Proctor (Engineering News Record—September 7, 1933) with this one major exception: his rammer blows were applied as “12 inch firm strokes” instead of free fall, producing variable compactive effort depending on the operator, but probably in the range 15 000 to 25 000 ft-lbf/ft3 (700 to 1200 kN-m/m3). The standard effort test (see 3.1.4) is sometimes referred to as the Proctor Test.
1.1.1 Soils and soil-aggregate mixtures are to be regarded as natural occurring fine- or coarse-grained soils, or composites or mixtures of natural soils, or mixtures of natural and processed soils or aggregates such as gravel or crushed rock. Hereafter referred to as either soil or material.
1.2 These test methods apply only to soils (materials) that have 30 % or less by mass of particles retained on the 3/4-in. (19.0-mm) sieve and have not been previously compacted in the laboratory; that is, do not reuse compacted soil.
1.2.1 For relationships between unit weights and molding water contents of soils with 30 % or less by mass of material retained on the 3/4-in. (19.0-mm) sieve to unit weights and molding water contents of the fraction passing 3/4-in. (19.0-mm) sieve, see Practice D4718/D4718M.
1.3 Three alternative methods are provided. The method used shall be as indicated in the specification for the material being tested. If no method is specified, the choice should be based on the material gradation.
1.3.1 Method A:
1.3.1.1 Mold—4-in. (101.6-mm) diameter.
1.3.1.2 Material—Pa...
General Information
Standards Content (Sample)
This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: D698 − 12 (Reapproved 2021)
Standard Test Methods for
Laboratory Compaction Characteristics of Soil Using
3 3 1
Standard Effort (12,400 ft-lbf/ft (600 kN-m/m ))
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D698; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense.
1. Scope 1.3.1.1 Mold—4-in. (101.6-mm) diameter.
1.3.1.2 Material—Passing No. 4 (4.75-mm) sieve.
1.1 These test methods cover laboratory compaction meth-
1.3.1.3 Layers—Three.
ods used to determine the relationship between molding water
1.3.1.4 Blows per Layer—25.
content and dry unit weight of soils (compaction curve)
1.3.1.5 Usage—May be used if 25% or less (see 1.4)by
compacted ina4or 6-in. (101.6 or 152.4-mm) diameter mold
mass of the material is retained on the No. 4 (4.75-mm) sieve.
witha5.50-lbf(24.5-N)rammerdroppedfromaheightof12.0
1.3.1.6 Other Usage—If this gradation requirement cannot
in. (305 mm) producing a compactive effort of 12400 ft-lbf/
3 3 be met, then Method C may be used.
ft (600 kN-m/m ).
1.3.2 Method B:
NOTE 1—The equipment and procedures are similar as those proposed
1.3.2.1 Mold—4-in. (101.6-mm) diameter.
by R. R. Proctor (Engineering News Record—September 7, 1933) with
3
1.3.2.2 Material—Passing ⁄8-in. (9.5-mm) sieve.
thisonemajorexception:hisrammerblowswereappliedas“12inchfirm
1.3.2.3 Layers—Three.
strokes”insteadoffreefall,producingvariablecompactiveeffortdepend-
1.3.2.4 Blows per Layer—25.
ing on the operator, but probably in the range 15000 to 25000
3 3
ft-lbf/ft (700 to 1200 kN-m/m ). The standard effort test (see 3.1.4)is
1.3.2.5 Usage—May be used if 25% or less (see 1.4)by
sometimes referred to as the Proctor Test. 3
mass of the material is retained on the ⁄8-in. (9.5-mm) sieve.
1.1.1 Soilsandsoil-aggregatemixturesaretoberegardedas 1.3.2.6 Other Usage—If this gradation requirement cannot
naturaloccurringfine-orcoarse-grainedsoils,orcompositesor be met, then Method C may be used.
mixtures of natural soils, or mixtures of natural and processed 1.3.3 Method C:
soils or aggregates such as gravel or crushed rock. Hereafter 1.3.3.1 Mold—6-in. (152.4-mm) diameter.
3
referred to as either soil or material. 1.3.3.2 Material—Passing ⁄4-in. (19.0-mm) sieve.
1.3.3.3 Layers—Three.
1.2 These test methods apply only to soils (materials) that
1.3.3.4 Blows per Layer—56.
3
have 30% or less by mass of particles retained on the ⁄4-in.
1.3.3.5 Usage—May be used if 30% or less (see 1.4)by
(19.0-mm) sieve and have not been previously compacted in
3
mass of the material is retained on the ⁄4-in. (19.0-mm) sieve.
the laboratory; that is, do not reuse compacted soil.
1.3.4 The6-in.(152.4-mm)diametermoldshallnotbeused
1.2.1 For relationships between unit weights and molding
with Method A or B.
water contents of soils with 30% or less by mass of material
3
retained on the ⁄4-in. (19.0-mm) sieve to unit weights and
NOTE 2—Results have been found to vary slightly when a material is
3
tested at the same compactive effort in different size molds, with the
molding water contents of the fraction passing ⁄4-in. (19.0-
smaller mold size typically yielding larger values of density/unit weight
mm) sieve, see Practice D4718/D4718M.
2
(1, pp. 21+).
1.3 Three alternative methods are provided. The method
1.4 If the test specimen contains more than 5% by mass of
used shall be as indicated in the specification for the material
oversize fraction (coarse fraction) and the material will not be
being tested. If no method is specified, the choice should be
included in the test, corrections must be made to the unit mass
based on the material gradation.
and molding water content of the specimen or to the appropri-
1.3.1 Method A:
ate field-in-place density test specimen using Practice D4718/
D4718M.
1 1.5 This test method will generally produce a well-defined
These Test Methods are under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D18 on
SoilandRockandarethedirectresponsibilityofSubcommitteeD18.03onTexture,
maximum dry unit weight for non-free draining soils. If this
Plasticity and Density Characteristics of Soils.
CurrenteditionapprovedJuly1,2021.PublishedJuly2021.Originallyapproved
ε2
2
in 1942. Last previous edition approved in 2012 as D698 – 12 . DOI: 10.1520/ Theboldfacenumbersinparenthesesrefertothelistofreferencesattheendof
D0698-12R21. this standard.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this stan
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