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.
t Gs (1   ) The moisture content of the soil which
d  , = gives the maximum dry density is the
1 t 1 e Optimum moisture content.

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.
-The type of the soil.
• LABORATORY COMPACTION TESTS
(to determine the optimum moisture content and max.dry
density)

Two types of compaction procedures (tests) are

usually employed in the laboratory

• Standard proctor compaction test after the

name of its originator Proctor (1933)

• Modified proctor (or modified AASHO)

compaction test. AASHO(American
Association of State Highway Officials)
• The Standard Proctor Compaction Test
• The apparatus used for the test consists of a cylindrical mould, with an
internal diameter of 10.16 cm and an effective height of 11.643cm,
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)

hammer

detachable collar

cylindrical mould

square metallic plate

• 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 hammer falling through
12 inches (30.48cm) 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.
i.e W1 = Weight of the wet Soil + mould + base plate
W2 = Weight of empty mould + base plate
Net weight of wet soil = W1 - W2
Given V = Volume of the mould(944cc) ,
W1  W2
Then, Wet unit weight of the soil, t = V

• A representative soil samples from top, middle and bottom are

taken from this wet soil to determine its average moisture content.
• ( i.e  = Moisture content of the soil is determined)

t
Dry unit weight of the soil ,d 
1
• A number of such tests are conducted with soil
samples having different moisture contents and d
worked out for all tests.

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

density curve is drawn and the peak of this curve
gives the optimum moisture content and the
corresponding maximum dry density.
 d (max)
Curve 
2.0 High Compactive effort
(Modified proctor test)
Dry 1.9
density in
gm/cc
1.8
Curve 
1.7
Low Compactive
Effort(standard
Optimum m.c proctor test)
1.6

1.5
7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
Water content,  %
• 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 hammer 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 hammer for each layer, the hammer 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 10b 18" 25 blows 

    4.5
 3 layers 5.5b 12" 25 blows 
• COMPACTION OF SOIL IN THE FIELD.
• A number of different types of equipment are available
for compacting soils.

Smooth 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.

 Core cutter method

 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(W1); knowing
the cutter weight(W2) and cutter
dimensions(V), the bulk and dry density of
the soil can be obtained. soil

W1  W2 t

• t =  d 
V 1

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, W
the weight of sand in the hole and t =
V
hence the volume of the hole can
be determined.
t
• This method can be used for any d 
type of soil. 1
 Compaction Control Test
d Compaction
d specifications
Compare
d,field = ? !
w wfield = ?
w

compacted ground