Soil Compaction

Compaction
Compaction is the method of mechanically
increasing the density of soil by removal of
air.

Dry density (d) is the measure of the degree

of compaction.
 Why Compaction?

Increase bearing capacity

Increase stability of slopes of
embankments
Reduce compressibility
Reduce permeability
Reduce volume changes
Prevent frost damage
 Laboratory Compaction Tests

Why Test?
dmax
Provide moisture density
curve identifying optimum
moisture.

Dry Density

OMC
Compare the degree of
compaction vs. specs
(Relative Compaction, R.C.). Moisture Content (%)
 Compaction Laboratory Tests

Standard Proctor Test

Modified Proctor Test

 Standard Proctor Test

V = 1/30 ft3
(944 cc)

Ww W t
w= t = d = S r e = w Gs
Ws V 1+ w
Standard Vs. Modified Proctor Compaction

Standard Proctor Modified Proctor

 Moisture-Density Curve
Zero Air Voids Line
S = 100%

Dry side of optimum

Wet side of optimum
W t
t = d =
V 1+ w
Test 1 2 3 4 wopt
w
Gs w Gs w Gs w
t
ZAV = = =
1+ e wGs 1 + wGs
1+
d

ZAV
Sr
 Allowable Moisture

Allowable Moisture = (OMC 3%) to (OMC + 2%)

 Factors affecting Compaction

Compactive Effort

Moisture Content

Soil Type
 Compactive Effort
Dry Density

Modified Proctor
d max
Zero air voids line

d max Standard Proctor

OMCmod OMCStd Moisture

content
 Soil Type

Grain size distribution.

Shape of soil grains.

Specific gravity of soil solids.

Amount and type of clay minerals.

Soil Type (contd)
 Check Point Method
Line of
Check Point Method optimums 100% saturation

1 point Proctor test

Known compaction
curves A, B, C A
d
Dry density,
Field check point X
Y (No)
(it should be on the d max
dry side of optimum) B XX

MM
C

wopt Holtz and Kovacs, 1981

Water content w %
 Relative Compaction
dmax Field
R.C. = 100
dmax
Lab
Correlation between relative compaction (R.C.)
and the relative density Dr
R.C. = 80 + 0.20.Dr

Dr =
(e max e )=
dmax ( d Field dmin )
(e max e min ) d ( dmax dmin )

Typical required R.C. = 90% ~ 100%

Field Compaction
 Elephant and Compaction

He He! Im smart.
Question?
The compaction result is
not good. Why?

Heavy Weight
 Types of Compaction

Vibration

Impact
Static or
Kneading Vibratory
Pressure
 Compaction Equipments and Techniques

Smooth Wheel rollers

Sheepsfoot Rollers

Pad Rollers

Pneumatic (Rubber-Tired) Rollers

Grid Rollers

Vibratory Rollers
Smooth-wheel roller (drum)

100% coverage under the wheel

All soil types except for rocky
soils.

Contact pressure up to 380

kPa
Compactive effort: static weight
Most common use is for proof-
rolling subgrades and compacting
asphalt pavement.

Holtz and Kovacs, 1981

 Sheepsfoot Rollers

8% ~ 12 % coverage
Best for clayey soils.
Contact pressure from 1400
to 7000 kPa
Compactive effort: static
weight and kneading.

Pad Roller

About 40% coverage

Best for compacting fine-grained
soils (silt and clay).
Contact pressure is from 1400 to
8400 kPa
Compactive effort: static weight
and kneading.
 Grid Rollers

About 40% coverage

Contact pressure is from 1400 to 8400 kPa
Best for compacting fine-grained soils (silt and clay).
Compactive effort: static weight and kneading.
Pneumatic Tired Rollers

80% coverage under the wheel.

Bet for Granular and fine-grained

soils.

Contact pressure up to 700 kPa.

Compactive effort: static weight and

kneading.

 Vibratory Compactors

Compactive effort: static weight and vibration.

Suitable for granular soils

 Field Density
Destructive Testing:
Sand Cone
Core Cutter
Rubber Balloon

Nondestructive Testing:
Nuclear Density
 Sand Cone Test
W1 Standard Sand with
known Gs

W2
W1= mass of sand cone before test
W2 = mass of sand cone after test
W3 = mass of sand filling cone and hole
(W3 = W1-W2)
W4 = mass of sand filling the cone = sand*Vcone
W4 W5 = mass of sand filling the hole = W3-W4
Vhole = W5 / sand
W5 W6 = mass of soil extracted from the whole
w = moisture content of soil W
w= w
t Ws
W6
t = d =
Vhole 1+ w
 Sand Cone Test Procedure
A small hole (6" x 6" deep) is dug in the compacted material to be
tested.

The soil is removed and weighed, then dried and weighed again
to determine its moisture content.

The specific volume of the hole is determined by filling it with

calibrated dry sand from a jar and cone device.

The dry weight of the soil removed is divided by the volume of

sand needed to fill the hole.

This gives the density of the compacted soil.

 Core Cutter

Static Load
Suitable for
cohesive soils only

W
t =
V 5 in
t
d =
1+ w

4 in
Rubber Balloon
 Nuclear Density
Nuclear Density meters are a quick and fairly accurate way of
determining density and moisture content.
The meter uses a radioactive isotope source (Cesium 137) at the
soil surface (backscatter) or from a probe placed into the soil
(direct transmission).
The isotope source gives off photons (usually Gamma rays)
which radiate back to the mater's detectors on the bottom of the
unit.
Dense soil absorbs more radiation than loose soil and the
readings reflect overall density.
Water content can also be read, all within a few minutes.
Nuclear Density