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Soil Compaction

The document discusses the importance of soil compaction, outlining reasons such as increasing shear strength and stability while decreasing permeability and settlements. It includes formulas for calculating relative compaction, dry unit weight, and suitability numbers for backfill materials. Additionally, it provides examples of compaction tests and calculations for determining optimal soil properties and transportation costs from different borrow pits.

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7 views16 pages

Soil Compaction

The document discusses the importance of soil compaction, outlining reasons such as increasing shear strength and stability while decreasing permeability and settlements. It includes formulas for calculating relative compaction, dry unit weight, and suitability numbers for backfill materials. Additionally, it provides examples of compaction tests and calculations for determining optimal soil properties and transportation costs from different borrow pits.

Uploaded by

Everything out of Boredom
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Soil Compaction

Soil Compaction
Reasons why soil must be compacted:
1. To increase shear strength
2. To decrease future settlements
3. To decrease permeability
4. To increase the stability of slopes of embankments
Formulas
𝛾𝑑(𝑓𝑖𝑒𝑙𝑑)
𝑅𝑒𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝐶𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛, 𝑅% = Shrinkage factor
𝛾𝑑(max)
𝑒1 − 𝑒2
𝛾𝑑(min) 𝑆𝐹, % =
𝑅𝑜 , % = 𝛾 1 + 𝑒1
𝑑(max)

𝑅𝑜 Suitability number
𝑅, % =
1−𝐷𝑟 (1−𝑅𝑜 ) 3 1 1
𝑆𝑁 = 1.7 + +
𝛾𝑑(𝑓𝑖𝑒𝑙𝑑) −𝛾𝑑(min) 𝛾𝑑(max) 𝐷50 ² 𝐷20 ² 𝐷10 ²
𝑅𝑒𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝐷𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦, 𝐷𝑟 =
𝛾𝑑(max) −𝛾𝑑(min) 𝛾𝑑(𝑓𝑖𝑒𝑙𝑑)
Suitability No. Rating as backfill
𝛾
𝐺𝑠 − 𝑚𝑎𝑥
𝛾𝑤 0-10 Excellent
𝑒𝑚𝑖𝑛 = 𝛾𝑚𝑎𝑥
−1 10-20 Good
𝛾𝑤
𝛾 20-30 Fair
𝐺𝑠 − 𝑚𝑖𝑛
𝛾𝑤 30-50 Poor
𝑒𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 𝛾𝑚𝑖𝑛
−1 >50 Unsuitable
𝛾𝑤
Example:
1. A proctor compaction test has been performed on a soil that has 𝐺𝑠 = 2.70. The test
results were as follows:

Test no. Mass of compacted Moisture Content Test Results


Soil + mold (kg) Mass of can (g) Mass of can + Mass of can + dry
moist soil (g) soil (g)
1 3.673 22.11 205.74 196.33
2 3.798 23.85 194.20 180.54
3 3.927 19.74 196.24 177.92
4 3.983 20.03 187.43 165.71
5 3.932 21.99 199.59 171.11

Mass of empty mold = 1.97 kg


Volume of mold = 0.000944 𝑚3
Determine:
a. Maximum dry unit weight
b. Optimum moisture content
c. Degree of saturation at the optimum moisture content
Solution:
a.
First, make a table. We need to determine the water content. After that,
determine the moist unit weight. And then, the dry unit weight.
After we get the value of the dry unit weights, plot in the compaction curve to
determine the value of maximum dry unit weight and the optimum moisture
content.
Test no. Mass of water (g) Mass of dry soil (g) Water content
(%)
1 205.74 – 196.33 = 9.41 196.33 – 22.11 = 174.22 9.41
= 5.4
174.22
2 194.20 – 180.54 = 13.66 180.54 – 23.85 = 156.69 13.66
= 8.72
156.69
3 196.24 – 177.92 = 18.32 177.92 – 19.74 = 158.18 18.32
= 11.58
158.18
4 187.43 – 165.71 = 21.72 165.71 – 20.03 = 145.68 21.72
= 14.91
145.68
5 199.59 – 171.11 = 28.48 171.11 – 21.99 = 149.12 28.48
= 19.10
149.12
Test no. Moist unit weight (kN/𝑚3 ) Dry unit weight (kN/𝑚3 )
1 3.673 − 1.97 9.81 17.7
= 17.70 = 16.79
1000(0.000944) 1 + 0.054
2 3.798 − 1.97 9.81 19
= 19 = 17.48
1000(0.000944) 1 + 0.0872
3 3.927 − 1.97 9.81 20.34
= 20.34 = 18.23
1000(0.000944) 1 + 0.1158
4 3.983 − 1.97 9.81 20.92
= 20.92 = 18.21
1000(0.000944) 1 + 0.1491
5 3.932 − 1.97 9.81 20.3
= 20.30 = 17
1000(0.000944) 1 + 0.191
Maximum dry unit weight = 18.40 kN/𝑚3
b. Optimum moisture content = 13.2%
𝑤𝐺𝑠 𝐺𝑠 𝛾𝑤
c. 𝑆 = 𝑒
, 𝛾𝑑𝑟𝑦 = 1+𝑒
13.2 2.70 2.7(9.81)
𝑆= 18.4 =
0.44 1+𝑒
𝑆 = 81% 𝑒 = 0.44
Example:
2. An earth dam requires 1 million cu.m. of soil compacted to a void ratio of 0.80. In the
vicinity of the proposed dam, three borrow pits were identified as having suitable
materials. The cost of purchasing the soil and the cost of excavation are the same for
each borrow pit. The only cost difference is transportation cost. The table below
provides the void ratio and the transportation cost for each borrow pit.
Borrow Pit Void Ratio Transportation Cost per 𝑚3
A 1.8 ₱ 0.60
B 0.9 ₱ 1.0
C 1.5 ₱ 0.75
Determine:
a. Volume of soil if taken from borrow pit C
b. Transportation cost of the soil if taken from borrow pit B
c. Which borrow pit would be the most economical?
Solution:
The density of soil is inversely proportional to the void ratio.
The greater the voids, the less denser the soil is.
We can say that,
1
𝜌=𝑘
1+𝑒
The constant 𝑘,
𝑘 =𝜌 1+𝑒

Therefore,

𝜌 1 + 𝑒 = 𝜌𝑐 1 + 𝑒𝑐
𝑚 𝑚
1+𝑒 = 1 + 𝑒𝑐 , note that the mass remains the same
𝑉 𝑉𝑐
𝑉𝑐 1+𝑒𝑐
=
𝑉 1+𝑒
𝑉𝑐 1 + 𝑒𝑐
=
𝑉 1+𝑒
𝑉𝑐 1 + 1.5
6 =
1 𝑥 10 1 + 0.8

𝑉𝑐 = 1,388,888 𝑚3

b. Since the transportation cost depends on volume, determine the value of 𝑉𝐵

𝑉𝐵 1 + 𝑒𝐵
=
𝑉 1+𝑒
𝑉𝐵 1 + 0.9
6
=
1 𝑥 10 1 + 0.8

𝑉𝐵 = 1,055,555 𝑚3

𝑇𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑠𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑡 = 1,055,555 1 = ₱1,055,555


c. Determine the value of 𝑉𝐴 so that we can compare the three.

𝑉𝐴 1 + 𝑒𝐴
=
𝑉 1+𝑒
𝑉𝐴 1 + 1.8
6 =
1 𝑥 10 1 + 0.8

𝑉𝐴 = 1,555,555 𝑚3

For A,
𝑇𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑠𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑡 = 1,555,555 0.6 = ₱933,333
For B,
𝑇𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑠𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑡 = 1,055,555 1 = ₱1,055,555
For C,
𝑇𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑠𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑡 = 1,388,888 0.75 = ₱1,041,666

Therefore, the most economical borrow pit is A.


Example:
3. A compacted soil with a wet density of 18.5 kN/𝑚3 has 97% of its pore spaces filled
with water at a moisture content of 29.5%.

Determine:
a. Specific gravity
b. Void ratio
c. Porosity
Solution:
It is stated in the problem that 97% of pore spaces if filled with water. It is the degree of
saturation.
a. 𝑆𝑒 = 𝑤𝐺𝑠

0.295𝐺𝑠
𝑒=
0.97
𝑒 = 0.3𝐺𝑠
𝐺𝑠 𝛾𝑤
𝛾𝑤𝑒𝑡 = 1+𝑤
1+𝑒
𝐺𝑠 9.81
18.5 = 1 + 0.295
1+𝑒
𝐺𝑠 9.81
18.5 = 1 + 0.295
1 + 0.3𝐺𝑠

𝐺𝑠 = 2.59

b.
𝑒 = 0.3 2.59
𝑒 = 0.78

c.
𝑒 0.78
𝑛= = = 0.44
1 + 𝑒 1 + 0.78

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