Course Outcome 3:

Elaborate on concepts and methods in

determining other soil parameters and the
various laboratory tests needed in designing
civil engineering projects and/or solving
engineering problems.
Modules:
Module 5 – Soil Compaction
Quiz No. 6, Laboratory Work
Module 6 – Permeability and Seepage
Quiz No. 7, Laboratory Work
Module 7 – Compressibility and
Settlement in Soils
Long Exam
Module 5: SOIL COMPACTION
Learning Outcomes:
At the end of the module, students must be
able to:
1. Elaborate on the importance of soil
compaction
2. Determine maximum dry unit weight and
optimum moisture content
3. Specify soil compaction criteria for field
compaction
Compaction is the application of
mechanical energy to a soil to rearrange
the particles and reduce the void ratio.

Soil compaction is defined as the method

of mechanically increasing the density of
soil.
Compaction is a simple ground
improvement technique, where the soil is
densified through external compactive
effort.
Compactive
effort

+ water =
Purpose of Compaction

1. reduces subsequent settlement under working

loads.
2. increases the shear strength of the soil.
3. reduces the void ratio making it more difficult for
water to flow through soil.
4. prevent the build-up of large water pressures that
cause soil to liquefy during earthquakes.
Results of Poor Compaction
Factors affecting Compaction

➢ Water content of the soil

➢ The type of soil being compacted
➢ The amount of compactive energy used
Effects of water content during compaction

As water is added to a soil (at low moisture

content) it becomes easier for the particles to
move past one another during the application of
the compacting forces.
As the soil compacts the voids are reduced and
this causes the dry unit weight (or dry density)
to increase.
Initially then, as the moisture content increases
so does the dry unit weight.
Effects of compaction effort

Compaction effort can be quantified in terms of

compaction energy per unit volume (number of
blows per layer, number of layers, weight of
hammer, height of the drop of the hammer, and
volume of mold)
• compaction energy per unit volume is 600
𝑘𝑁 𝑚/𝑚3 for Standard Proctor Test
• Compaction energy per unit volume is 2700
3
𝑘𝑁 𝑚/𝑚 for Modified Proctor Test
Effects of soil type

The grain size distribution of soil, shape,

specific gravity of solids, as well as the type
and amount of clay minerals present affect
the dry unit weight and optimum moisture
content for a given compactive effort and
compaction method.
Effects of soil type
Soil Type Typical Values

𝛾𝑑𝑟𝑦 𝑚𝑜𝑝𝑡
𝑚𝑎𝑥

Well graded sand SW 22 7

Sandy clay SC 19 12

Poorly graded sand SP 18 15

Low plasticity clay CL 18 15

Non plastic silt ML 17 17

High plasticity clay CH 15 25

Compaction is quantified in terms of a
soil’s dry unit weight, 𝛾𝑑 , which can be
computed in terms of wet (bulk) unit
weight, 𝛾 , and moisture content, 𝑤
(expressed as a decimal), by
𝛾
𝛾𝑑 =
1+𝑤
Dry soils can be best compacted (and
thus a greater density achieved) if for
each soil a certain amount of water is
added to it.
Water acts as a lubricant and allows soil
particles to be packed together better.
If too much water is added, a lesser
density results.
For a given compactive effort, there is a
particular moisture content at which dry
unit weight is greatest and compaction
best.
This moisture content is called the
optimum moisture content, and the
associated dry unit weight is known as the
maximum dry unit weight.
Usual practice in a construction project is to
perform laboratory compaction test on
representative soil samples from the construction
site and to determine the soil’s optimum moisture
content and maximum dry unit weight.

This maximum dry unit weight is used by

designer in specifying design shear strength,
resistance to future settlement, and permeability
characteristics.
 The soil is then compacted by field
compaction methods until the laboratory
maximum dry unit weight (or an acceptable
percentage of it) has been achieved.

In-place soil unit weight tests are used to

determine if and when the laboratory
maximum dry unit weight (or an acceptable
percentage thereof) has been reached.
Laboratory Compaction tests

Laboratory compaction tests are

performed to determine a soil’s optimum
moisture content and maximum dry unit
weight.
Standard Compaction Test
(Proctor Test)

3 layers
25 blows per layer
2.5 kg hammer
300 mm drop
Modified Compaction Test (Modified
Proctor Test)

5 layers
25 blows per layer
4.9 kg hammer
450 mm drop
Presentation of Results

Determine the dry unit weight, 𝛾𝑑𝑟𝑦

In the test the dry unit weight cannot be

measured directly, what are measured are the
bulk density and the moisture content.
𝛾𝑏𝑢𝑙𝑘
𝛾𝑑𝑟𝑦 =
1+𝑤
Variation of dry unit weight with moisture content
If the soil were to contain a constant
percentage, A, of voids containing air

𝐴 𝐺𝑠 𝛾𝑤
𝛾𝑑𝑟𝑦 = 1−
100 𝐺𝑠 𝑤 + 1
If the percentage of air voids is zero, that
is, the soil is totally saturated, then

𝐺𝑠 𝛾𝑤
𝛾𝑑𝑟𝑦 =
𝐺𝑠 𝑤 + 1
Relation between the moisture content and dry unit for saturated soil
Effects of increasing compactive effort
Field Density Tests
 Field Density Testing Method
Sand Cone Balloon Dens meter Shelby Tube Nuclear Gauge

* Large sample * Fast

* Fast
* Direct reading * Easy to redo
Advanta- Large sample * Deep sample
obtained * More tests
ges Accurate * Under pipe
* Open graded (statistical
haunches
material reliability)
 Field Density Testing Method
Sand Cone Balloon Dens meter Shelby Tube Nuclear Gauge

* Many steps
* Large area * No sample
* Small Sample
required * Slow * Radiation
* No gravel
Disadva * Slow * Balloon * Moisture
* Sample not
ntages * Halt breakage suspect
always
Equipment * Awkward * Encourages
retained
* Tempting to amateurs
accept flukes
 Field Density Testing Method
Sand Cone Balloon Dens meter Shelby Tube Nuclear Gauge

* Void under * Miscalibrated

* Surface not
plate * Overdrive * Rocks in
level
* Sand bulking * Rocks in path
Errors * Soil pumping
* Sand path * Surface prep
* Void under
compacted * Plastic soil required
plate
* Soil pumping * Backscatter
Cost * Low * Moderate * Low * High
Field specifications

To control the soil properties of earth

constructions (e.g. dams, roads) it is usual to
specify that the soil must be compacted to
some pre-determined dry unit weight. This
specification is usually that a certain
percentage of the maximum dry density, as
found from a laboratory test (Standard or
Modified) must be achieved.
% compaction of field sample
𝛾𝑑 𝑓𝑖𝑒𝑙𝑑
=
𝛾𝑑 𝑚𝑎𝑥
Field Compaction
Equipment
Equipment Most suitable Typical Least suitable
soil application soils
Smooth wheeled Well graded sand- Running surface, Uniform sands
rollers gravel, crushed base courses,
rock, asphalt subgrades
Rubber tired Coarse grained Pavement subgrade Coarse uniform
rollers soils with some soils and rocks
fines
Grid rollers Weathered rock, Subgrade, subbase Clays, silty clays,
well graded coarse uniform materials
soils
Sheepsfoot rollers, Fine grained soils Dams, Coarse soils, soils
static with 20% fines embankments, with cobbles,
subgrades stones
Vibrating plates Coarse soils, 4 to Small patches Clay and silts
8% fines
Tampers, rammers All types Difficult access
areas
Impact rollers Most saturated and Dry sands and
moist soils gravels
Smooth wheeled roller
Pneumatic rubber tired roller
Vibratory roller
Vibrating Plates
Sheepsfoot roller
Impact roller
Earth Moving Equipment

Grader
Earth Moving Equipment

Bulldozer
Earth Moving Equipment

Loader
Earth Moving Equipment

Backhoe
Earth Moving Equipment

Hydraulic Excavator
Earth Moving Equipment

Rock Breaker