Moisture Condition Value (MCV) Testing
MCV testing for assessing and controlling moisture in earthworks by rapid assessment.
The MCV test is for assessing and controlling the suitability of soils for earthworks. The test method is based on material being compacted by use of the built in rammer and the settlement achieved for a specified number of blows recorded. By plotting results on a logarithmic scale, the MCV value is obtained allowing analysis of variation in MCV value against changing moisture contents.
Tests on a number of specimens at different moisture contents are termed the Moisture Condition Calibration (MCC) and enable a relationship to be drawn between MCV and moisture content for a particular soil. The test can be used as an earthworks control without the necessity for moisture content or Atterberg limit testing. The advantage of the test is seen as being speed of result availability and a simplicity of operation and test result application.
The MCV test is an alternative to the often used moisture content stipulation based on a multiple of plastic limit.
Saves time as results are instant
Once the calibration against the material has been completed there is no need to measure moisture content which takes 24 hours.
Specification confusion
Be careful of earthworks specifications that call for MCV as well as OMC and natural MC and plastic limits - the limits need looking at carefully!
In the Field or in the Lab
A versatile test that can be carried out on-site or in the field with equally accurate results.
