Water to Reach Optimum Moisture for Compaction
Gallons of water to bring a dry lift up to the Proctor's optimum moisture before rolling: water = (optimum - field)/100 x dry soil weight, gallons = lb / 8.34. A 100 bcy lift at 105 pcf dry, sitting at 9% when optimum is 14%, needs ~1,700 gal (one water truck); a lift wetter than optimum signals aerate, not water.
Formula and source
dry_weight_lb = volume_bcy x 27 x dry_density_pcf; water_lb = (omc_pct - field_pct)/100 x dry_weight_lb; water_gal = water_lb / 8.34; needs_drying = field_pct > omc_pct.
Gravimetric water-content identity by name (water added = moisture deficit x dry soil mass); first-principles arithmetic.
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