What is compaction testing primarily conducted for?

Compaction testing is primarily conducted to evaluate the level of compaction achieved in soil. This process involves measuring how densely the soil particles are packed together after a specific compaction effort. Achieving optimal compaction is crucial for ensuring that the soil can support structures and withstand the applied loads, thus minimizing settlement and enhancing stability.

This testing helps engineers assess whether the compaction meets the required specifications for construction projects. The results of compaction testing inform decisions about the suitability of the soil for construction and whether additional compaction efforts are necessary.

While water content and plasticity index are important soil characteristics, they do not directly measure how compacted the soil is. Density measurements are valuable but are often a part of compaction testing rather than its sole purpose. Therefore, evaluating the level of compaction itself is the primary focus of compaction testing.