What is a proctor soil test?
The proctor test determines how much a soil can be compacted. The test is used by engineers who select building locations. Highways, parking lots and other structures are built on compacted soil to ensure stability.Soil DensitySoil density describes soil compaction. The more compact a soil is, the higher its density. Maximum soil density is achieved when soil cannot be compacted any more than it already is.Soil Water ContentSoil water content is the amount of water in a soil. Water content affects how compact soil becomes. Every soil has a unique “optimum” water content that allows the maximum soil density to be attained.MethodologyThe proctor test compacts soil at different water contents to determine which water content produces the maximum soil density in a particular soil.Standard TestThe standard proctor test is used when the soils will underlie relatively small structures, such as parking lots, and involves repeatedly dropping a weight onto a soil sample. The soil is then oven-dr
