What is the main goal of conducting a Standard/Modified Proctor test?

The main goal of conducting a Standard or Modified Proctor test is to establish the optimum moisture content and density of the soil. This is crucial for understanding how soil behaves under compaction, which directly affects its load-bearing capacity and stability in construction projects.

During the test, the soil is compacted at various moisture contents, allowing the determination of the maximum dry density that can be achieved for a given soil type under specified compaction effort. By identifying the optimum moisture content, engineers can ensure that when the soil is compacted during construction, it reaches its best possible stability and performance.

This capability is essential for effective soil management in construction, as it informs decisions about earthwork, backfill, and foundation preparation, helping to avoid future problems such as settling or instability. Other aspects mentioned, like determining soil type, assessing environmental impact, or validating soil chemistry, are not the primary focus of the Proctor test; therefore, they do not align with the main objective of optimizing soil compaction conditions.