Standard Method of Test for
Field Determination of Maximum Dry Density and Optimum Moisture
Content of Soils for Cement Modified Recycled Base
SCDOT Designation: SC-T-27 (07/17)
1. SCOPE
This method covers a procedure for determining the maximum dry density and optimum
moisture content of cement modified recycled base (CMRB) in the field. In most instances, it
will be possible and advantageous to use the maximum dry density and optimum moisture
supplied in the approved CMRB mix design but variations in the existing roadway may
require a field maximum dry density and optimum moisture content to be determined. The
decision to use the maximum dry density and optimum moisture content of the CMRB
approved mix design or re-establish a new maximum dry density and optimum moisture
content will be determined based on the results of the Nuclear Density Gauge test results.
All failing results (less than 95.0 % compaction when compared to the CMRB approved mix
design or moisture contents below optimum moisture when compared to the CMRB mix
design) will require a field determination of the maximum dry density and optimum
moisture content. Additionally, tests resulting in a percent compaction of 103.0% or greater
when compared to the approved CMRB mix design will require field determination of the
maximum dry density and optimum moisture content.
This standard may involve hazardous materials, operations and equipment. This standard
does not purport to address all of the safety problems associated with its use. It is the
responsibility of the user of this standard to consult and establish appropriate safety and
health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
2. REFERENCED DOCUMENTS
SC-T-22: Determining Moisture Content of Soils by Carbide Gas Method
SC-T-23: Determining Moisture Content of Construction Materials by ‘Pan Drying’
Method
SC-T-29: Field Determination of Maximum Dry Density and Optimum Moisture Content of
Soils by the One-Point Method
SC-T-33: Field Determination of Density and Moisture Content of Nonstandard Materials
by Use of the Nuclear Density Gauge
AASHTO T 224: Correction for Coarse Particles in the Soil Compaction Test
SCDOT Approved CMRB Mix Design
3. SUMMARY OF TEST METHOD
A field determination of the in place wet density will be determined with the in-place
CMRB using a nuclear density gauge. Additionally, the in place moisture content will be
determined by pan drying. These two results will be compared to the maximum dry density
and optimum moisture content provided on the approved CMRB mix design to determine
if a field determination of the maximum dry density and optimum moisture will be
required. If required, the amount of material retained on the No. 4 sieve is determined by
sieving the same sample obtained with SC-T-23 (Determining Moisture Content of
Construction Materials by ‘Pan Drying’ Method). This percentage is then used in
combination with the results of the one point proctor test to calculate a corrected
maximum dry density and optimum moisture content for the construction material, which
can then be used to determine the required dry density and moisture targets.
4. SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
The maximum dry density and optimum moisture content of construction materials for use
in roadways is important in field compaction and tests for determining compaction. These
values can be obtained in the field for materials containing larger amounts (approximately
10% - 40%) of material which is retained on the No. 4 sieve.
5. APPARATUS
• Balance or Electronic Scale, 12 K capacity, Capable of Reading to Accuracy of 0.1 g
• No. 4 Sieve, 12 inch Diameter
6. TEST PROCEDURE
Determine the density of the in-place CMRB material using SC-T-33. Record the density in
pounds per cubic foot (pcf).
Determine the moisture content of the in-place CMRB material using SC-T-23. Record the
moisture content as a percentage (%) of the weight of the sample. Do not discard the dry
sample, this is the sample for this test procedure.
Compare the moisture content and the density to the optimum moisture content and
maximum dry density determined in the SCDOT approved mix design to determine if the
maximum dry density and optimum moisture content need to be re-established.
Determining Amount Retained on No. 4 Sieve
Obtain the full representative sample used in SC-T-23 which has been previously dried.
Ensure the sample is cool to the touch prior to handling material. Weigh and record the
total dry sample weight to the nearest 0.1 g (a).
Sieve all material over a No. 4 sieve. The material which passes through may be discarded.
Take caution to not lose material over the top of the sieve as this will cause this test to
become inaccurate. Break up small clumps of material by hand.
Weigh and record the amount of material retained on the No. 4 sieve to the nearest 0.1 g
(b).
Use the recorded weight values in Equation 1 below to determine the percentage of
material retained on the No. 4 sieve (c). Round to the nearest 0.1%.
Calculating Corrected Maximum Dry Density
Using Equation 2, determine the percentage of material passing the No. 4 sieve (d). This will
require the percentage of material retained on the No. 4 sieve as determined in Equation 1.
Round to the nearest 0.1%.
Using Equation 3, determine the total corrected maximum dry density of the composite
material, combined fine and coarse particles (e). This will require the maximum dry density
of the material passing the No. 4 sieve which can be obtained from SC-T-29 (x) (Field
Determination of Maximum Dry Density and Optimum Moisture Content of Soils by the
One-Point Method). Round to the nearest 0.1 pcf. (Note: The specific gravity of the material
retained on the No. 4 sieve is assumed to be 2.6, per AASHTO T 224.)
Calculating Corrected Optimum Moisture Content
Using Equation 4, determine the corrected optimum moisture content of the composite
material, combined fine and coarse particles (f). This will require optimum moisture content
of the material passing the No. 4 sieve (y) which can be obtained from SC-T-29 (Field
Determination of Maximum Dry Density and Optimum Moisture Content of Soils by the
One-Point Method). Round to the nearest 0.1%. (Note: The optimum moisture content of
the material retained on the No. 4 sieve is assumed to be 2.0%, per AASHTO T 224.)
7. CALCULATIONS
Equation 1 – Determining the Percentage of Material Retained on the No. 4 Sieve
𝑏𝑏 (𝑊𝑊𝑊𝑊𝑊𝑊𝑊𝑊ℎ𝑡𝑡 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁 4 𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀 𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅)
𝑐𝑐 = % 𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀 𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅 = 100 % ∗
𝑎𝑎 (𝐼𝐼𝐼𝐼𝐼𝐼𝐼𝐼𝐼𝐼𝐼𝐼𝐼𝐼 𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷 𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆 𝑊𝑊𝑊𝑊𝑊𝑊𝑊𝑊ℎ𝑡𝑡 )
Equation 2 – Determining the Percentage of Material Passing the No. 4 Sieve
𝑑𝑑 = % 𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀 𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃 = 100 % − 𝑐𝑐
Equation 3 – Determining the Corrected Maximum Dry Density of Composite Material
162.24 ∗ 𝑥𝑥
𝑒𝑒 = 𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀 𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷 𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷 (𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝) =
(𝑐𝑐/100 ∗ 𝑥𝑥) + (𝑑𝑑/100 ∗ 162.24)
Equation 4 – Determining Corrected Optimum Moisture Content of Composite Material
𝑓𝑓 = 𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 𝑂𝑂𝑂𝑂𝑂𝑂𝑂𝑂𝑂𝑂𝑂𝑂𝑂𝑂 𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀 𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 (%) = 0.01 ∗ [(2 ∗ 𝑐𝑐) + (𝑑𝑑 ∗ 𝑦𝑦)]
Example;
a - Initial Dry Weight of Sample 2562.4 g
b - Weight of No 4 Material Retained 483.5 g
483.5
𝑐𝑐 = % 𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀 𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅 = 100 ∗ = 18.9%
2562.4
𝑑𝑑 = % 𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀 𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃 = 100 − 18.9 = 81.1%
x - Maximum Dry Density of the Material Passing the No. 4 Sieve 116.5 pcf
162.24 𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝 ∗ 116.5 𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝
𝑒𝑒 = 𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀 𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷 𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷 (𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝) = = 123.1 𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝
18.9% 81.1%
� ∗ 116.5𝑝𝑝𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐� + ( ∗ 162.24𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝)
100 100
y - Optimum Moisture Content of Material Passing No. 4 Sieve 12.4%
𝑓𝑓 = 𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 𝑂𝑂𝑂𝑂𝑂𝑂𝑂𝑂𝑂𝑂𝑂𝑂𝑂𝑂 𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀 𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 (%) = 0.01 ∗ [(2 ∗ 18.9) + (81.1 ∗ 12.4)] = 10.4%
8. REPORT
Report the data on SCDOT Form 300.06 – Reclamation Percent Compaction by Nuclear
Gauge – Direct Read
