ENE 323 SOIL MECHANICS

Compaction of Soil
Chapter 5

Lectures (25,26, & 27) Week # 09 (2226 Nov 2010)

DETERMINATION OF FIELD UNIT WEIGHT OF COMPACTION Standard method for determining the field unit weight compaction include: Nuclear density meter Sand cone method Rubber balloon method.

NUCLEAR DENSITY METER

Nuclear density meter are used for determining the compacted dry unit weight of soil. Density meter operate either in drilled or from the ground surface. It measure

Weight of wet soil per unit vol. Weight of water per unit vol.

Dry unit weight =moist unit weight of soil minus the weight of water.

PROBLEM 5.3

SPECIAL COMPACTION TECHNIQUES

Vibroflotation Dynamic compaction Blasting

VIBROFOLOTATION

Technique for in-situ densification of thick layers of loose granular soil deposits. Developed in Germany in 1930 First device was used in USA in 1940. Process involve the use of vibroflot also known as vibrating unit , which is 7 ft long. Vibrating unit has an eccentric weight inside it and can develop a centrifugal force, which enables the vibrating unit to vibrate horizontally. There are opening at the top and bottom of the vibrating unit for water jets . The vibrating unit is attached to a follow up- pipe .The entire assembly of equipment necessary for compaction is shown in the figure

5.4 VIBROFLOTATION
Vibroflotation is a technique for in situ densification of thick layers of loose granular soil deposits. It was developed in Germany in the 1930s.

From Das, 1998

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5.4 VIBROFLOTATION-PROCEDURES

From Das, 1998

Stage1: The jet at the bottom of the Vibroflot is turned on and lowered into the ground Stage2: The water jet creates a quick condition in the soil. It allows the vibrating unit to sink into the ground Stage 3: Granular material is poured from the top of the hole. The water from the lower jet is transferred to he jet at the top of the vibrating unit. This water carries the granular material down the hole Stage 4: The vibrating unit is gradually raised in about 0.3-m lifts and held
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COMPACTION OF ORGANIC SOIL AND WASTE MATERIALS

The presence of organic material in soil reduces its strength. Soil with high organic content are discarded Slightly organic are used for compaction (for economic reasons) Organic soil are desirable for agriculture, desertification etc With high cost of waste disposal possible use of waste material in various land fill operation has come up. Such uses are thrust to environmental geo-technology. Following are compaction characteristics of some of these materials:
1)

Organic soil

2)Paper mill sludge

3).Bottom ash from coal burning and copper slag

1. ORGANIC SOIL

Several laboratory test have been conducted to study the effect of organic content on the compaction characteristics of soil. Organic content exceeds 8 to 10% , the max dry unit weight of compaction decreases rapidly . Conversely the optimum moisture content increases with the increases in organic content. Conclusion : soil with organic content higher then 10% are undesirable for compaction.

2.PAPER MILL SLUDGE

Paper mill sludge ,despite of high water contents , and low solid contents can be compacted and used for landfill. Example Wisconsin Massachusetts both uses paper mill sludge to cap landfills

3.BOTTOM ASH FROM COAL BURNING AND COPPER SLAG

These product have tested in the lab are proven to be safe for use as a landfill

THANK YOU

VARIOUS TYPES OF COMPACTION TEST

Type of Test
BS Light ASTM (5.5lb) BS Heavy ASTM (10lb) BS Vibration hammer

Mould
One Liter

Hammer mass (kg)

2.5

Drop (mm)
300

No of layers
3

Blows per layer

27

CBR
4 in 6 in One Liter CBR 4 in 6 in CBR

2.5
2.49 2.49 4.5 4.5 4.54 4.54 32 to 41

300
305 305 450 450 457 457 Vibration

3
3 3 5 5 5 5 3

62
25 56 27 62 25 56 1 minute

COMPACTION CHARACTERISTICS UNIFIED SOIL CLASSIFICATION

Group Symbol
GW GP GM GC SW SP SM SC CL ML OL, MH, CH, OH, PT Good to Fair Good to Poor Fair to Poor Good

Compaction Characteristics

EMBANKMENT MATERIALS UNIFIED SOIL CLASSIFICATION

Group Symbol
GW SW CL GP GM GC SC SP SM ML OL, MH, CH, OH, PT

Value as Embankment Material

Very Stable Stable Reasonably Stable

Reasonably Stable when Dense Poor, gets better with high density Poor, Unstable

SUBGRADE MATERIALS UNIFIED SOIL CLASSIFICATION

Group Symbol
GW GP GM GC SW SP SM SC ML CL OL, MH, CH, OH, PT

Value as Subgrade Material

Excellent Excellent to Good Good Good to Fair Fair to Poor Poor to Not Suitable

Lambe and Whitman, 1979

STRUCTURE OF COMPACTED CLAY

Intermediate structure
High Compactive Effort

Dry Density

Dispersed Structure or parallel

Flocculated Structure or Honeycomb Structure or Random

Low Compactive Effort

Water Content

COMPRESSIBILITY & EXPANSION UNIFIED SOIL CLASSIFICATION

Group Symbol
GW GP GM GC SW SP SM SC ML CL OL, MH, CH, OH, PT

Compressibility and Expansion

Very Little Slight Very Little Slight Slight to Medium Medium High

3.3 PROCEDURES AND RESULTS

Procedures
(1)

Several samples of the same soil, but at different water contents, are compacted according to the compaction test specifications.
The first four blows The successive blows

(2)

The total or wet density and the actual water content of each compacted sample are measured.

(3)

Mt , d Vt 1 w

Derive d from the known and w

Plot the dry densities d versus water contents w for each compacted sample. The curve is called as a compaction curve.
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