SEMINAR ON

COMPACTION
BY

SUVADEEP DALAL DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING IIT KHARAGPUR, KHARAGPUR JANUARY 2012

What is Soil Compaction

Densification of soil by the application of mechanical energy.

Compaction (i)Short term process. (ii) Elastic settlement occurs. (iii) Reduction of air content at a given water content. (iv) Soil is always unsaturated.

Consolidation (i)Long term process (ii) Plastic or permanent settlement occurs. (iii) Expulsion of pore water from voids. (iv) soil is completely saturated.

Method of Compaction
Cohessionless soils are compacted by

dynamic method of compaction (vibration). Cohessive soils are compacted by static compaction.

Objective of Compaction
Detrimental settlements can be

reduced. Soil strength and slope stability can be improved. Bearing capacity of subgrade can be improved. Undesirable volume change due to swelling , shrinkage may be controlled.

Factors Affecting Compaction

Water content Compacting effort Method of compaction Type of soil

Addition of admixtures

Laboratory test
Proctor Test Standard Proctor

Modified Proctor

Standard Proctor Test

Specification (i) Mass of hammer (ii) Height of drop (iii) Number of drops (iv) Number of layers (v) Volume of mould Description (i) 2.495 Kg (ii) 304.88 mm (iii) 25 (iv) 3 (v) 0.944*10^-3 m^3

Compactive effort = (2.495)*(9.81)*(304.88/1000)*(3)*(25)/(0.944*10^-3) = 592.7 KJ/m^3

Modified Proctor Test

Specification (i) Mass of hammer (ii) Height of drop (iii) Number of drops (iv) Number of layers (v) Volume of mould Description (i) 4.536 Kg (ii) 457 mm (iii) 25 (iv) 5 (v) 0.944*10^-3 m^3

Compactive effort = (4.536)*(9.81)*(457/1000)*(5)*(25)/(0.944*10^-3) = 2693 KJ/m^3

Procedure

Determination of Dry-density Moisture Content Relationship

Fig.1: Dry Density Vs Moisture Content Relationship

Effect of Compaction on Soil Properties

Structure of Soil
Permeability Shrinkage

Swelling
Pore Pressure Compressibility

Shear Strength