1 Correlation of Maximum Laboratory Dry Density and Optimum Moisture Content of Soil with Soil Parameters Waqas Hassan 1 , Muzaffar Ahmad 1 , Amir Farooq 1 , Ali Ajwad* 2 , Hafiz Qasim Ali 1 , Yasir Ilyas 1 1 Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan 2 Department of Civil Engineering, University of Management and Technology, Lahore, Pakistan ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT *Corresponding Author: ali.ajwad@umt.edu.pk DOI: 10.24081/nijesr.2017.1.0003 The correlation of compaction properties of soil with various soil parameters are investigated in this study. These correlations were derived through graphically analysis. Soils samples were collected from ten cities of Punjab, Pakistan. The maximum dry density and optimum moisture content (O.M.C) are the compaction properties of soil, which is related to many of soil parameters that included Atterberg index (liquid limit (LL), plastic limit (PL), and plastic index (PI)), percentage of fines (silt, sand), coefficient of uniformity (Cu) and coefficient of curvature (Cc). The relationship of maximum dry density and percentage of fines (silt, sand), optimum moisture content and percentage of fines are the most important relations. These relationships provide a key role in the construction of highways. The effect on the maximum dry density of various kinds of soil, quantity of fines, and types of fines and distribution of the grain size become decided through a sensitivity evaluation that measured the effect of those parameters on acquired maximum dry density By measuring these correlations some unique behavioral developments have been analyzed and we conclude that properly-graded soils have better dry density than poorly graded when the soils have the equal fines content, further it became discovered that plastic fines have a tendency to boom the maximum dry density. Keywords: Maximum Dry Density, Optimum Moisture Content (O.M.C), Liquid Limit (LL), Plastic Limit (PL), Plastic Index (PI), Coefficient of Uniformity (Cu), Coefficient of Curvature (Cc). I. INTRODUCTION In this study the basic attempt is to develop relationship between soil type and its compaction characteristics of a soil by just carrying out gradation analysis or visual observation. This relation can provide a quick reference of density and soil type. The main purpose of this research is to investigate possible correlations between maximum laboratory dry density, optimum moisture content (O.M.C), coefficient of uniformity (Cu), coefficient of curvature (Cc), plastic limit, liquid limit, plastic index, percentage of sand content and silt content. The availability of correlations between the tests results would reduce the effort and cost by guessing with confidence any compaction properties. In this research, different tests were carried out such that sieve analysis, hydrometer analysis, specific gravity, liquid limit, plastic limit and modified proctor compaction test. The test results are used to evaluate the different soil properties required for investigation of possible correlations between them. In general compaction is the process in which lessening in volume happens by removal of water under long haul static burdens. It happens when stress is connected to a soil that makes the soil particles pack together all the more firmly, thusly diminishing its mass volume. When this happens in a soil that is immersed with water, water will be pressed out of the soil [1, 3]. Exactly when stress is leaved from a consolidated soil, the soil will bob back; in the consolidation procedure the lost portion of soil volume is recovered. Recompression curve is achieved as describe by recompression index along with consolidation of soil when the stress is applied again. The soil known as over consolidated when load is removed which it had, for example the glaciers on soil before removing. The greatest stress that the soil has supported in past is known as the pre- consolidation stress. [2, 4] The process of increasing density of soil or unit weight of soil by lessening in air volume is named as compaction, water content usually don’t be altered [17]. The dry density of soil is used to measure the level of compaction too, normally rely on water content and compactive effort (number of blows, weight of hammer, height of free fall, and number of layers). Maximum dry density is achieved at the optimum moisture content. Compaction can be associated with upgrade the properties of a present soil. i.e extend shear quality and bearing breaking point. Extend solidness and along these lines diminish future settlement. [5, 6] The dry density of soil is more when it consist of different sizes of particles but if it have same size of particles then its dry density might be lower [16]. The dry density of soil is also depends on shape and arrangement of particles which decide