The video was informative, but I found a few mistakes that should be noted. (per ASTM D698) 1. Samples with clay should be allowed to cure for at least 16 hours. 3:16 2. The base plate should have been secured to a rigid foundation, without wobbling/rocking. 3. The soil should have been lightly tampered prior to pounding each layer, so that the material isn't in a fluffy and loose state. 4. When you start pounding each layer, the pattern should be like a "+" for the first 4 blows (left, right, down, up), and then you start going in a circle pattern until you reach 25 blows. 5. The sample should only extend a maximum of 1/4 inch above the top of the mold or it should be discarded. You said 1/2 - 1 inch above the top of the mold. 4:00 💀 6. Before starting the 3rd and final layer, you should trim any excess, loose soil remaining from the 2nd layer that wasn't compacted or that extends above the compacted surface. 7. You only sampled the moisture from a single layer. The preferred method is to use the entire specimen, but you should have used a representative portion that included all 3 layers, per the ASTM.
