Contents

Worksheet Layout

QESTLab worksheets for this test type are laid out in the following manner. Note that

1. Individual elements may be named slightly differently for the purposes of familiarity in different regions but the main elements remain largely the same. 
2. The units shown on the test will differ based on the units configuration of the QESTLab system in use and potentially document level options

There are four main sections to consider, described in the following section below. Starting from the top left with the tab control and moving anti-clockwise, these are:

• The tabs that record and display test-level information such as preparation details and equipment used
• The specimen grid that is used to enter and calculate data for the individual test portions
• The results frame where the result of the test is ultimately shown, and
• The oversize frame where data can be entered to adjust the result for the presence of oversize material in the sample that is excluded from the test portion

Equipment

All equipment used for the given test is selected on the Equipment tab of the worksheet. The following equipment can be selected on the worksheet:

Importing Density Mould Mass and Volume

The worksheets for this test type are able to import mass and volume values from density mould calibration data. This import behaviour can be controlled at a system level through the use of document level options.

The available values for this option are detailed in the table below.

Imported Data

The following data is imported onto this test from other tests for maximum dry density tests.

Data Entry

Details

The data entered on the details tab includes details such as:

• The compaction method (if applicable to the test method)
• The number of layers and blows that the compaction procedure incorporated
• The compactive effort (if applicable)
• The preparation method
• The fine material particle density value and whether this is measured or assumed. This value is necessary for drawing the air voids lines on the charts described below.

Most worksheets will attempt to set data on this tab automatically based on other data that is present in the test. The specifics of this functionality are described in the articles related to each given test method.

Oversize Material Frame

The Oversize Material frame will be called Excluded Oversize or Treatment of Oversize Material depending on the test method in use. Data entered here will determine the exact percentage of oversize material as well as the specific gravity and (if applicable) moisture content of oversize material. These values are used to adjust the maximum dry density and optimum moisture content results determined for the fine material.

The exact functionality of this frame as well as the calculation to adjust the laboratory results differs from test method to test method. These are further described in the articles related to each given test method.

Test Specimens Grid

The specimens grid is used to enter data related to the individual compaction test portions. The units used in the specimen grid will depend on the laboratory unit configuration, the test method being used as well as, in some cases, document level options for the test in question. The Sub Sample Mass and Water Added mass fields are for record keeping purposes and are not incorporated in calculations. 

There are often multiple dry masses presented the water content determination section of the specimen grid. Depending on configuration and test method being used there may be rules built into the worksheet determining when constant dry mass has been reached. If such rules exist, a Moisture Content (%) value will not be calculated until such time as constant dry mass has been determined to have been reached. If such rules exist, they are detailed on the page for the particular test method.

Number of Sub Samples and Excluding Test Portions

The number of sub samples can be modified, this will add or remove columns from the grid such that the number of columns matches the value in the Number of Sub Samples box. 

Results for individual test portions can also be excluded from calculations and reporting by toggling the Exclude this result? drop down to Yes for the relevant test portion. If a test portion is excluded it:

• Is not plotted on the chart showing dry density (or unit weight) values vs. moisture content values
• Is not included in the determination of the maximum dry density or optimum moisture content results

Density Mould Selection

In order to aid in efficient data entry, the worksheet will assume that the same density mould is used for each subsample. In this way, the density mould and its associated parameters only need to be entered once, in the equipment tab.

Whether a mould parameter is imported from the selected mould's calibration or is free entry depends on the value of the relevant document level option described in the equipment section above. The Use for all sub samples checkbox denotes that the density mould selection and parameters entered on the equipment tab will be used on all sub samples. When this is checked, the corresponding mould selection and values are locked on the sub sample grid. 

If multiple moulds are used on a given test, this checkbox should be un-checked. This will unlock the mould selection and relevant fields in the sub sample grid. It will now be possible to select different moulds on the individual sub-samples. The behaviour around the importing of mould mass and volume will obey the same rules for each sub sample as described in the equipment section above. When the Use for all sub samples checkbox is un-checked, any values in the Equipment tab are ignored.

Re-checking the Use for all sub samples checkbox will warn the user that this will potentially overwrite data on the individual sub-samples.

Calculated Results

Test Specimens Grid

For each test portion (column), in order to calculate:

• Mold Volume, the following can be used
  • Entry, calculation or import of this value on the Equipment tab (described above), or
  • Selection of a mold on the individual test portion
  • Direct entry if no mold is selected
• Wet Density value, enter values for or otherwise populate the following fields
  • Mold & Wet Soil Mass
  • Mold Mass (this can also be entered on the equipment tab, applying it to all test portions)
  • Mold Volume
• Converted Wet Density value, enter or otherwise populate the following fields (see informational note below)
  • Water Added
  • Wet Density
• Moisture Content (%) enter the following values
  • Container & Wet Soil Mass
  • Container & Dry Soil Mass 1
  • Container & Dry Soil Mass 2  (depending on test method)
  • Container Mass
• Once the Wet Density and Moisture Content values for a test portion are calculated, the Dry Density (t/m³) values will also be calculated

Chart Tabs

Note that, by default, maximum dry density and Proctor worksheets will show only one chart tab. This tab is described in the Chart - Dry section below. In order to show both tabs, the Use Converted Wet Density Chart document level option can be set to True for this test. This option can only be modified by a QESTLab System Administrator.

Chart - Wet

This chart can be enabled by setting the document-level option Use Converted Wet Density Chart to True for this test. This option can only be modified by a QESTLab System Administrator.

The calculated Wet Density value for each test portion will be plotted against the Water Added (%) for that portion. This chart will act as an early indicator of compaction completion but its accuracy is entirely dependent on the accuracy of the estimated water added.

Chart - Dry

The calculated Dry Density value for each test portion will be plotted against the calculated Moisture Content (%) value for the portion in order to render this chart. 

Air Voids lines at 0%, 5% and 10% air voids can be plotted alongside the curve using the checkboxes on this tab, the selections on this tab will be reflected on chart shown on the test report.

Results Frame

The results frame shows the achieved Maximum Dry Density (or MDD) value in the appropriate units after dry density (or unit weight) results for all test portions have been calculated in the specimen grid and a peak can be determined for the chart drawn on the Chart - Dry tab described above. The screenshots below show example results using metric units and inch-pound units respectively.

Bulk Entry

This test type requires

1. A significant amount of data entry
2. Across an arbitrary number of test portions
3. A chart to calculate results

Due to the above, it is not possible to carry out data entry for these test types on the bulk entry screen. Bulk entry screens for maximum dry density/Proctor test methods, therefore, show the results from the test in a read-only format.

Reporting

Results are reported on a special test report for maximum dry density/Proctor test methods that is a child of the actual test itself. This is due to the charting requirements for most test methods. While the reports are similar, there are different report objects for different regions, explained below.

Maximum Dry Density Test Report

This test report is used for Australian and New Zealand maximum dry density test methods. This test report will also report Atterberg Limits results if a sibling Atterberg Limits test exists on the same sample as the Proctor test the report is attached to. Additionally, this report has the capability of charting the moisture-density curve corrected for oversize material. The inclusion of the corrected chart is controlled through a document level option on the Proctor test.

Properties

Proctor Test Report

This test report is used for ASTM, AASHTO and North American state Proctor test methods. 

Properties

Test Methods

Differences from or additional functionality to that described above are captured in the following articles.

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