CAN/BNQ 2501-255/2023

This standard specifies a procedure to determine the relation between the water content and the dry density of soil and soil aggregates mixes when they are compacted in a standard mould by a 4.536 kg rammer dropped from a height of 457 mm. Three methods are used to determine this relation (see Chapter 5). NOTE — The laboratory compaction test methods described in this standard generally provide good measurements of optimum water content and maximum dry density, except for soil and soil aggregate mixes of high hydraulic conductivity. In many cases with such soils, these test methods do not provide accurate water content dry density relations. Maximum masses thus derived are generally lower than those obtained using vibration methods. These test methods apply to materials produced in quarries, sand pits and gravel reaches, to natural soils like till and clay and to recycled materials, all of which having been subjected to processing, in particular dynamiting and crushing.