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Chapter 9

The document discusses compaction of soils. It defines compaction as closely packing soil particles to reduce air voids through mechanical means like repetitive loading. Laboratory tests like standard and modified Proctor tests determine optimum moisture content and maximum dry density by compacting soil at different moisture levels. In the field, various equipment compact soils and core cutter or sand replacement methods measure compacted density.

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Haftamu Tekle
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© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
40 views

Chapter 9

The document discusses compaction of soils. It defines compaction as closely packing soil particles to reduce air voids through mechanical means like repetitive loading. Laboratory tests like standard and modified Proctor tests determine optimum moisture content and maximum dry density by compacting soil at different moisture levels. In the field, various equipment compact soils and core cutter or sand replacement methods measure compacted density.

Uploaded by

Haftamu Tekle
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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9.

COMPACTION OF SOILS
• Compaction of a soil may be defined as the process
of closely packing the soil particles together by
reducing the air voids in the soils, by mechanical
means.

• Compaction of a soil can be achieved by repetitive


application of loads. Loads can be applied statically,
dynamically, or through vibration
• The Primary objective of compaction is to improve
the engineering properties of the material in any or all
of the following ways:

• by increasing the shear strength and thereby


improving the stability of embankments and the
bearing capacity of foundation and pavement.

• by decreasing the compressibility and thereby


reducing settlement.

• by decreasing the void ratio and thereby


reducing permeability
Compaction of a soil is measured interms
of dry density.
γt
γd =
1+ ω

Increase in the dry density of a soil due to


compaction is affected by

The moisture content of the soil


The mode and amount of compaction.
• LABORATORY COMPACTION TESTS

Two types of compaction procedures are usually


employed in the laboratory

• Standard proctor compaction test after the


name of its originator R.R. Proctor (1933)

• Modified proctor (or modified AASHO)


compaction test.
• The Standard Proctor Compaction Test

• The apparatus used for the test consists of a


cylindrical mould, with an internal diameter of 10.2 cm
and an effective height of 11.7cm, giving a volume of
944cc.

• The mould is placed on a detachable square metallic


plate and it carries a detachable collar of 6.35cm
height on its top.

• The compaction of the soil in this mould is done with


a hammer that weighs 2.5kg (5.5lbs) and falls through
a distance of 30.48cm (12 inches).
• Test procedure
• Air-dried soil sample passing sieve № 4 is mixed
thoroughly with a measured quantity of water and is
compacted in the mould in three equal layers

• Each layer is compacted by 25 blows of the rammer


falling through 12 inches during each blow.

• Each compacted layer is raked with a spatula before


placing the next layer. This ensures a good bond
between the three layers.

• After compaction of the three layers, the detachable


collar is removed and the extra soil projecting above the
top of the mould is trimmed off carefully, so as to level
the soil surface with the top of the mould.
• The net weight of wet soil is determined by
subtracting from the total weight of wet soil, mould
and the base plate, the weight of empty mould and
the base plate.

• A representative soil samples from top middle and


bottom are taken from this wet soil to determine its
average moisture content.
Let,
– W1 = Weight of the wet Soil + mould + base plate
– W2 = Weight of empty mould + base plate
– V = Volume of the mould ,
– ω = Moisture content of the soil
Then

W1-W2 = Weight of the soil,

W1 −W2
Wet unit weight of the soil, γt =
V

γt
Dry unit weight of the soil , γd =
1+ ω
• A number of such tests are conducted with soil
samples having different moisture contents and γd
worked out for all tests.

• From all these tests data, the moisture content-dry


density curve is drawn and the peak of this curve
given the optimum moisture content and the
corresponding maximum dry density.
γd (max) Curve ΙΙ
2.0

Dry 1.9
density Zero air void curve
in gm/cc s=100%
1.8
Curve Ι
1.7

Optimum m.c
1.6

1.5
7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
Water content, ω %
• Modified Proctor [AASHO] Test
• The standard proctor compaction test is performed
where ordinary compaction equipment is to be used
in the field.

• However, in some types of constructions it is required


to use heavy compacting equipments; then in order to
get better comparable results; this test is performed
with some modifications.

• In this modified test, the testing equipment is similar


to the one used in the standard proctor’s test except
that the weight of rammer is 10lbs and its fall is 18
inches.
• The testing procedure is also similar except that the
soil is compacted in 5 equal layers, using 25 blows
of the rammer for each layer, the rammer falling
through 18 inches during each blow.

• The calculations of dry density and moisture content


are identical with the ones described in the
proceeding test.

• The compactive energy transmitted by the modified


AASHO test is about 4.5 times the energy
transmitted by the standard proctor test

⎡ 5 layers 10λb 18" 25 blows ⎤


⎢ Χ Χ Χ = 4.5⎥
⎣ 3 layers 5.5λb 12" 25 blows ⎦
• Zero Air-Void Curve [or 100% Saturation Curve]
• For a particular value of degree of saturation, one can
compute different values of ω and γd, by using the
relation:
Gs γ ω ω Gs
γd = where
1+ e e=
Gs γ ω s
∴ γd = ω Gs
1+
s
•If these values of ω and γd are plotted, then the curve
obtained is known as air-void curve. (For example
80% of saturation curve would indicate 20% air-void
curve). The curve for 100% degree of saturation
indicates zero air- void, and hence known as zero air-
void curve.
• COMPACTION OF SOIL IN THE FIELD.
• A number of different types of equipment are available
for compacting soils.

Roller
Sheep foot roller
rammer

Vibratory plate
• Compaction Control in the Field.

• In the field when the compaction is being carried


out, it is essential to check the dry density and the
moisture contents so as to control the progress of
the work.

• The following two methods are more commonly


used to determine the in-situ density of soil.

¾ Core cutter method


¾ Sand-replacement method
• Core cutter method
• After the cutter has been first presses into the soil
and then dug out, the soil is trimmed to the size of
the cutter and both cutter and soil are weighed;
knowing the weight and dimensions of the cutter, the
bulk density of the soil can be obtained.
W
γd =
V (1 + ω )

™This apparatus is more suitable for soft


cohesive soils but cannot be applied to stiff
clays; sand soils, and soils containing too many
stones that can damage the cutting edge.
• Sand replacement method.
• A small round hole (about 100mm diameter and 150mm
deep) is dug and the mass of the excavated material is
carefully determined.

• The volume of the hole thus formed is obtained by pouring


into it sand of known density from a special graduated
container; knowing the weight of sand in the container
before and after the test, the weight of sand in the hole and
hence the volume of the hole can be determined.

. This method can be used for any type of


soil.

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