University of Babylon Subject: Methods of Construction and Estimation

College of Engineering Lecture No.: 4

Department of Civil Engineering Lesson topic: Soil stabilization and compaction
Class: IV Year Civil Eng., 2020-2021 Lecturers: Dr. Ali Hassoon & Dr. Hassanean Salam

Soil stabilization and compaction

Soils are used extensively in and with many types of construction, they are used
to support structures, to support pavement, for highway and airports, and as dams
and levees to resist the passage of water. Some soils may be suitable for use in
their natural state, while others must be excavated, processed, and compacted in
order to serve their purposes.

1. Methods for soil stabilization:

i. Mechanical methods
a. Compaction.
b. Impact.
c. Vibration.
d. Combined.
ii. Chemical methods
a. Stabilization by lime.
b. Stabilization by cement.
c. Stabilization by Fly-Ash.
iii. Stabilization by replacement or addition
a. Mixing soil.
b. Rock column.
c. Sub base.
d. Boulder.

2. Swelling and Shrinkage Factors:

𝐵𝐵
𝑺𝑺𝒘𝒘 (%) = � − 1� ∗ 100 … (1)
𝐿𝐿
𝐵𝐵
𝑺𝑺𝒏𝒏 (%) = �1 − � ∗ 100 … (2)
𝐶𝐶
Where:
𝑆𝑆𝑤𝑤 : Percentage of Swelling.
𝑆𝑆𝑛𝑛 : Percentage of Shrinkage.
𝐵𝐵: Density of soil before excavation (embankment).
𝐿𝐿: Density of soil after excavation (Loose).
𝐶𝐶: Density of soil after excavation (compacted).
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University of Babylon Subject: Methods of Construction and Estimation
College of Engineering Lecture No.: 4
Department of Civil Engineering Lesson topic: Soil stabilization and compaction
Class: IV Year Civil Eng., 2020-2021 Lecturers: Dr. Ali Hassoon & Dr. Hassanean Salam

3. Classification of Soil:
1. Boulder > 250 mm
2. Gravel > 6 mm
3. Sand (0.05-6) mm
4. Silt < 0.05 mm.
5. Clay < 0.002 mm
6. Organic material.

4. Laboratory Test for Soil Density:

1. Standard proctor test.
2. Modified proctor test.

5. Specification of Soil Compaction:

1. Fix the method of compaction, thickness of each layer, moisture content,
type of compactor equipment, no. of compactors passing.
2. Method and end result.
3. Suggest method and end result.
4. Result only.

6. Compaction equipment:
1) Tamping Roller:
Specification of compaction
• No. of passing
• Passing tamping rollers for a certain depth.
• Repeat passing till reaching specified
density.

Tamping roller is suitable for compacting clay soil or sandy clay soil and it is not
suitable for granular soil such as sand or gravel.
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University of Babylon Subject: Methods of Construction and Estimation
College of Engineering Lecture No.: 4
Department of Civil Engineering Lesson topic: Soil stabilization and compaction
Class: IV Year Civil Eng., 2020-2021 Lecturers: Dr. Ali Hassoon & Dr. Hassanean Salam

2) Smooth Wheel Compactor:

• Used to compact granular soils, for surface layers of roads, and for asphalt.
• It is not suitable for clay soil.
• When compacting cohesive soils these rollers tend to form a crust over the
surface, which may prevent adequate compaction in the lower portions of a
lift.

3) Pneumatic-Tire Roller:
Used for all types of soil and asphalt, their weight can be increased by adding
water or sand.

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University of Babylon Subject: Methods of Construction and Estimation
College of Engineering Lecture No.: 4
Department of Civil Engineering Lesson topic: Soil stabilization and compaction
Class: IV Year Civil Eng., 2020-2021 Lecturers: Dr. Ali Hassoon & Dr. Hassanean Salam

4) Vibrating compactor:
Most compactor are supplied with vibration machine to give more compaction
especially for grain soils.

7. Methods of compaction:
i. Kneading action.
ii. Static weight.
iii. Vibration.
iv. Impact.

Pressure Bulb Theory of Load Distribution

𝑤𝑤 w
𝐴𝐴 =
𝑃𝑃 D

𝜋𝜋 𝑤𝑤
∗ 𝐷𝐷2 =
4 𝑃𝑃
1
2 D

0.6P

4𝑤𝑤 1.5D

∴ 𝐷𝐷2 = 0.3P 2D

𝜋𝜋𝜋𝜋 0.15P
0.09P

4𝑤𝑤
𝐷𝐷 = �
𝜋𝜋𝜋𝜋

Where:
𝐷𝐷: diameter of circle (mm)
W: load (N)
A: area of circle (𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚2 )
P: unit pressure under area (𝑁𝑁/𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚2 )

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University of Babylon Subject: Methods of Construction and Estimation
College of Engineering Lecture No.: 4
Department of Civil Engineering Lesson topic: Soil stabilization and compaction
Class: IV Year Civil Eng., 2020-2021 Lecturers: Dr. Ali Hassoon & Dr. Hassanean Salam

Example 4.1:

A pneumatic-tire roller was used to compact a soil, if the weight on each tire is
1500 kg and the pressure inside it = 0.6 𝑁𝑁/𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚2 . What is the maximum thickness
for each lift of the soil that can be compacted, if the pressure beneath this lift is
not less than 0.35 𝑁𝑁/𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚2 .

Solution:
Depth Factor Pressure (N/mm2)
𝑤𝑤 1500 ∗ 10
𝐴𝐴 = = = 25000 0 1 0.6
𝑃𝑃 0.6
89 0.6 0.36
4 ∗ 25000 178 0.3 0.18
𝐷𝐷 = � = 178 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚
𝜋𝜋 267 0.15 0.09
356 0.09 0.054
𝑦𝑦 89
= → 𝑦𝑦 = 4.94
0.01 0.18
∴ 𝑇𝑇ℎ𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙 = 89 + 4.94 = 94 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚

w=1500Kg

D
178mm

89

0.6P
178 89mm
267
0.3P 356

0.15P 0.18 0.35 0.36

0.09P

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University of Babylon Subject: Methods of Construction and Estimation
College of Engineering Lecture No.: 4
Department of Civil Engineering Lesson topic: Soil stabilization and compaction
Class: IV Year Civil Eng., 2020-2021 Lecturers: Dr. Ali Hassoon & Dr. Hassanean Salam

Chemical methods:
1- Stabilization by lime
Use to stabilize soil of grain grading (fine-grained soils)
A. Common admixture:
i. Lime-cement mixture
ii. Lime-fly ash mixture

Quantity used 5-10% from the soil weight.

When added to the clay soil, there are two reactions take place;
a) Ionic exchange 𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶(𝑂𝑂𝑂𝑂)2 + 𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑂𝑂2 → 𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶
b) Sedimentation process
B. Method of addition:
i. In situ mixing
ii. Mixing at plant
iii. Slurry
2- Cement Stabilization
A. Used in
i. Stabilization of roads
ii. Earth dames
B. Soil suitable for this method
• Sandy soil
• Clay soil with L.L (45-50), and PI less than 25.
Cement help to reduce L.L and increase P.I.

Table 1: percent of cement added to soil.

AASHTO Unified classification % Cement by volume
A-2 and A-3 GP, SP and SW 6-10
A-4 and A-5 CL, ML, and MH 8-12
A-6 and A-7 CL, CH 10-14

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University of Babylon Subject: Methods of Construction and Estimation
College of Engineering Lecture No.: 4
Department of Civil Engineering Lesson topic: Soil stabilization and compaction
Class: IV Year Civil Eng., 2020-2021 Lecturers: Dr. Ali Hassoon & Dr. Hassanean Salam

C. Methods of adding the cement

i. In situ mixing
ii. Mixing at plant
iii. Slurry (0.5:5) (Cement: Water)

For weak soil, under foundation by injection which causes to reduce permeability
and increase the strength.

3- Fly-Ash stabilization

It is a pozalanic material consists mainly 𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑂𝑂2 + 𝐴𝐴𝐿𝐿2 𝑂𝑂3

𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑂𝑂2 + 𝐴𝐴𝐿𝐿2 𝑂𝑂3 + 𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶(𝑂𝑂𝑂𝑂)2 → 𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶

Added ratio (10-35%) fly ash, and (10-20%) lime, the soil should be compacted
with a suitable moisture.

Stabilization by mixing, replacement or addition:

1. Mixing soil (mix different soil to get a good soil for compaction)
2. Rock column (stone column)
Used to increase the bearing capacity for shallow foundation which eartic on
softy clay soil.
Specifications
a) size of the stone or aggregate used (6-40) mm.
b) columns diameter (0.5-0.75) m.
c) spacing between columns (1.5-3.0) m.

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University of Babylon Subject: Methods of Construction and Estimation
College of Engineering Lecture No.: 4
Department of Civil Engineering Lesson topic: Soil stabilization and compaction
Class: IV Year Civil Eng., 2020-2021 Lecturers: Dr. Ali Hassoon & Dr. Hassanean Salam

Plane
Plane
5m fine clay
water jet
compacted
sub base
20m hard clay
Compacted
soil

Replacement:

0.8750

Sub base 0.8750

Boulder

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University of Babylon Subject: Methods of Construction and Estimation
College of Engineering Lecture No.: 4
Department of Civil Engineering Lesson topic: Soil stabilization and compaction
Class: IV Year Civil Eng., 2020-2021 Lecturers: Dr. Ali Hassoon & Dr. Hassanean Salam

Example 4.2:

If earth placed in a fill at the rate of 100 m3/hr and the dry weight of the earth is
1200 kg/m3, how many liters of water must be supplied each hour to increase the
moisture content of the earth from 4 to 10% by weight.

Solution:
Percentage of moisture added to the soil = 10% – 4% = 6 %
6
Quantities of moisture added to each 1 m3 = × 1200 = 72 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘 ≈ 72 𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿
100

Quantities of water added to each 100 m3 = 72 × 100 = 7200 𝑙𝑙/ℎ𝑟𝑟

Example 4.3:

Earth in situ weight is 1700 kg/m3, loss weight is 1410 kg/m3, and compacted
weight is 1954 kg/m3 is placed in a fill layers at the rate of 150 m3/hr, measured
as compacted earth in layers whose compacted thickness of 150 mm. Sheep’s-foot
roller drums, each 1.5 m wide, are pulled by a tractor at a speed of 3 km/hr with
an operating factor of 80%. Determine the number of drums required to prove the
necessary compaction if 8 drums passes are specified for each layer of earth.
Width of road is 6 m.
Solution:
1700 L
𝑆𝑆𝑤𝑤 = � − 1� × 100 = 20.56% 1.5 m
1410
1700 d
𝑆𝑆ℎ = �1 − � × 100 = 13%
1954 b
𝑚𝑚3
Rate of output per day = 150 × 8 × 0.8 = 960 (𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿)
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑

960
𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 𝑣𝑣𝑣𝑣𝑣𝑣𝑣𝑣𝑣𝑣𝑣𝑣 = = 850 𝑚𝑚3
1.13
𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑉 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒ℎ 𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙 𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 (𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑎𝑎𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐) = 𝑑𝑑 × 𝑏𝑏 × 𝐿𝐿
850 = 0.15 × 6 × 𝐿𝐿
850
∴ 𝐿𝐿 = = 944.4 𝑚𝑚
6 × 0.15

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University of Babylon Subject: Methods of Construction and Estimation
College of Engineering Lecture No.: 4
Department of Civil Engineering Lesson topic: Soil stabilization and compaction
Class: IV Year Civil Eng., 2020-2021 Lecturers: Dr. Ali Hassoon & Dr. Hassanean Salam

𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷 𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟 𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏 𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐

= 𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁. 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 × 𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁. 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙 × 𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙ℎ
= 8 × 4 × 944.4 = 30220.8 𝑚𝑚
𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷 𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏 𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒ℎ 𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙 𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 = 3 × 8 × 0.8
= 19.2 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘
30220.8
𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁 𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟 = = 1.57 ≈ 2
19200

Example 4.4:
If a multi-wheel pneumatic roller whose tires were inflated to 0.9 N/mm2 and
whose empty weight =10 ton and maximum weight=16 ton and has 8 wheel, what
is the maximum compacted depth of a layer of earth that can be compacted to a
unit pressure of not less than 0.135 N/mm2 at the bottom of the layer?
Solution:
Maximum weight on each Wheel= 16/8=2 ton = 2000kg
𝑊𝑊
𝐴𝐴 =
𝑃𝑃
𝜋𝜋 2 𝑊𝑊
𝐷𝐷 =
4 𝑃𝑃
4 𝑊𝑊
𝐷𝐷2 =
𝜋𝜋 𝑃𝑃

4 × 2000 × 10
𝐷𝐷 = � = 168.2 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚
3.14 × 0.9

Depth 0 84.1 168.2 252.3 336.4

Stress (MPa) 0.9 0.54 0.27 0.135 0.081

∴ 𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷ℎ 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚. 𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐 𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒ℎ 𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙 = 252.3 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚

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