COMPARISON BETWEEN COMPACTION OF SUBBASE MATERIAL BY PROCTOR TESTS AND SUPERPAVE GYRATORY COMPACTOR

Abstract

Proctor impact compaction tests represent the most commonly used laboratory method to determine the maximum dry unit weight and optimum moisture content of soils. One shortcoming of the Proctor test is that it uses impact loads to compact the soil in a stiff non-yielding mold. This technique may not accurately simulate modern field compaction methods so, a more appropriate method of compacting soils in the laboratory is needed. The research presented herein explores the feasibility of using a superpave gyratory compactor (SGC) to compact subbase material. The subbase is brought from Badra area, east of Wasit governorate. Type (B) subbase is used in this research, with three percentages of aggregate passing sieve No. 4, (30, 50 and 60) %. Before the SGC tests were implemented on the subbase material, Proctor tests (ASTM D-1557) (ASTM D-698-12) were performed on it to obtain the optimum moisture content and maximum dry density.