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Soil Compaction - UKM - Joint Lecture

Soil compaction involves densifying soil to reduce voids and increase strength. The standard Proctor test determines optimum moisture content and maximum dry density for compaction. Modified Proctor applies more energy to simulate modern equipment. Field compaction uses rollers to achieve desired density levels relative to Proctor tests. Special techniques like vibroflotation, dynamic compaction, and blasting compact deep soils.

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INDRAN A/L SELVAM
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27 views23 pages

Soil Compaction - UKM - Joint Lecture

Soil compaction involves densifying soil to reduce voids and increase strength. The standard Proctor test determines optimum moisture content and maximum dry density for compaction. Modified Proctor applies more energy to simulate modern equipment. Field compaction uses rollers to achieve desired density levels relative to Proctor tests. Special techniques like vibroflotation, dynamic compaction, and blasting compact deep soils.

Uploaded by

INDRAN A/L SELVAM
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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SOIL COMPACTION

Presenter : Ts. Dr. Nurmunira Muhammad


Faculty: Faculty of Civil Engineering Technology, UMPSA
Contact: [email protected]
Soil Compaction
• Why are we trying to achieve by compacting soil?
 Reduce the amount of voids in the soil by densifying it.

• Why do we want a denser soil?


 higher soil strength
Less settlement
Lower permeability
Reduces liquefaction potential
Reduced soil rut away & corrosion
Moisture-
Density
Relations
• The compaction process
need to reduce the
voids..However,
• As the curve goes down,
the soil particles getting
further apart not together
as the water keep filling
the voids.
Modified Proctor Test
• The same mold from the standard Proctor test is used
• Altered Procedure:
• The soil is compacted in 5 layers by a hammer that has a mass of 4.54 kg
• The drop of the hammer is 457 mm / 18 inch (ASTM D-1557 or AASHTO T-180)
• The number of hammer blows per layer is kept at 25
• Effect:
• Applies roughly 4.5x the energy as the standard proctor test.
• Increased compaction effort which increases the measured max dry unit weight

• Why do you think we needed to develop a modified proctor test?

To simulate compaction equipment for modern technology that


become more efficient over the years.
Factor Affecting
Compaction
• Aside from moisture content, two
important factors that affect
compaction are soil type and
compaction effort (energy per
unit volume)
• Soil type has a great influence
on the maximum dry unit
weight and optimum moisture
content
• Some soils, like sand, exhibit
compaction curves different
than a single-peaked bell curve
• Increasing the energy applied to the soil gives:
Effect of higher • Higher (
compaction effort • Lower
Structure of Compacted Cohesive Soil
• When wet of optimum, impact creates greater
alignment of particles (i.e. Dispersive soil).
 If soil particles become too aligned, then
the soil can behave somewhat like a viscous
fluid.
Occurs due to ; too much water and/or
too much energy (over compacting the
soil)
• When dry of optimum, electrical double layer is
thinner. Lending to a more flocculated soil
structure.
Effect of Compaction on Structure of Clay
Soil
Point A:
Flocculent Structure
Point B:
Lower degree of flocculation and a
higher dry unit weight
Point C:
Greater degree of particle orientation
and a relatively dispersed structure
Point D:
Highly oriented particles with even
dispersion
Point E:
Tighter particle spacing and
parallelism
Das/Sobhan. Principles of Geotechnical
Engineering, SI, 9E
Effects of Compaction on Engineering
Properties
• Effect on Permeability
• Increased moisture content leads to decreased soil permeability.
• Best if w is within about -1% to +3% of wopt.
• Effect on Strength and Stiffness
• Increased moisture content leads to decreased strength and stiffness. (viscous soil)
• Effect on Compressibility ( Cohesive Soils)
• Al lower pressure (compaction on shallow ground), wet side (dispersive) compresses more.
• At higher pressures (big compaction area, soil layering), wet side compress less but dry side
(flocculated) compresses more.
• Effect on shrink/swell potential
• Increased moisture content leads to decreased swell potential and increased shrink potential.
Types of
Compaction
Equipment
Types of
Compaction
Equipment
Field Compaction
• Soil is spread in layers

• A predetermined amount of water is sprayed on each layer (lift) of soil, after


which compaction is initiated by the desired roller
• Factors to achieve desired unit weight of compaction:
 Soil type & moisture content
 Thickness of lift

 Intensity of pressure applied by compacting equipment and


area over which the pressure is applied
 Number of roller passes
Evaluation of Compaction
• In the field, engineers will measure and w and compare them to the
specifications (i.e., proctor density).
• Specification are usually in the form of a Relative Compaction and a Water
Content Tolerence
• For example: ” … must be greater than 95% of Standard Proctor maximum dry density
and within + 3% of optimum moisture content.”

Relative Compaction =

Relative Compaction, R Relative Density, Dr


Relative Compaction Empirical Equations
•In terms of relative density, Dr:

where:
Determination of Field Unit Weight of
Compaction
• Engineers use different methods to measure (yd)field and w.

Sand Cone Method


Determination of Field Unit Weight of
Compaction
The Rubber Balloon Method

• This procedure is similar to the sand cone


method
• However, the volume of the hole is measured
using a rubber balloon filled with water from a
calibrated vessel
Determination of Field Unit Weight of Compaction
Evaluation of Soils as Compaction Material

Principles of Geotechnical Engineering, SI, 9E Das/Sobhan


Special Compaction Techniques
• Special compaction techniques are used for deep compaction of in-place
soils
• These include:
• Vibroflotation
• Dynamic compaction
• Blasting

Principles of Geotechnical Engineering, SI, 9E Das/Sobhan

19
Principles of Geotechnical Engineering, SI, 9E Das/Sobhan

Vibroflotation
• The Vibroflot unit contains an
eccentric weight and vibrates
horizontally
• There are openings at the
bottom and top for water jets
• The unit compacts a cylindrical
zone of about 2 m radius
each time it is lowered

20
Principles of Geotechnical Engineering, SI, 9E Das/Sobhan

Dynamic compaction
• This process consists primarily of
dropping a heavy weight (80 to 360 kN)
repeatedly on the ground at regular
intervals between a height of 7.5 and
30.5 m
• Degree of compaction depends on:
• Weight of hammer
• Height of hammer drop
• Spacing of locations at which the hammer
is dropped

21
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accessible website, in whole or in part.
Principles of Geotechnical Engineering, SI, 9E Das/Sobhan

Blasting
• Blasting involves detonating explosive
charges at a depth below the surface in
saturated soil
• Three to five successful detonations are
usually necessary
• Compaction up to a depth of 18 m over
a large area can easily be achieved
• The charges are usually placed at a depth
of about two-thirds of the thickness of the
soil layer desired to be compacted

22
Principles of Geotechnical Engineering, SI, 9E Das/Sobhan

Summary
• The Proctor test is used to determine the maximum dry
unit weight of compaction and optimum moisture content
• Empirical relationships exist to estimate the maximum dry
unit weight and optimum moisture content of a soil
• Smooth-wheel, rubber-tired, sheepsfoot, and vibratory
rollers are generally used for field compaction
• Vibroflotation, dynamic compaction, and blasting are
special compaction techniques

23

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