Adaptation of Proctor Standard`s test to obtain the optimum humidity in the production of Compressed Soil Blocks

Abstract

In this investigation the adaptation of Proctor Standard`s test is developed to obtain the optimum manufacturing humidity of the Compressed Soil Blocks for each type of soil. In the adaptation three points are modified: form of filling of the mold, was realized in a single layer instead of three; the loading application instrument was a hydraulic compression press, not a steel compacting ram; generating a dynamic load type while the adapted one is quasi-static load.

The adapted test obtained: average optimum humidity of 22%, that is 34% more than the normal proctor (16.3%); the average dry density increases by 7% from 1.53 g / cm3 to 1.69 g / cm3 and the breaking strength of the blocks is 9.59 kg / cm2 against 5.24 kg / cm2. This expresses better conditions in the demoulding by reducing the broken blocks (1 of 10 against 1 of 3).