SOIL COMPACTION

Soil Compaction-
-Defined as the method of mechanically increasing
the density of soil.

-In construction, this is a significant part of the

building process.
 Important Elements in Soil Compaction

Soil Type Compaction Effort

Required

Soil Moisture
Content
Why Compact?

Five Principle Reasons to Compact Soil

* Increases load-bearing capacity

* Prevents soil settlement and frost damage

* Provides stability

* Reduces water seepage, swelling and contraction

* Reduces settling of soil

 TYPES OF COMPACTION

FOUR TYPES OF COMPACTION

VIBRATION
PRESSURE
IMPACT

KNEADING
 COMPACTION FORCE

STATIC
VIBRATORY
Static force is simply the deadweight of the
machine, applying downward force on the soil
surface, compressing the soil particles. The only
way to change the effective compaction force is by
adding or subtracting the weight of the machine.
Static compaction is confined to upper soil layers
and is limited to any appreciable depth. Kneading
and pressure are two examples of static
compaction.
RESULTS OF POOR COMPACTION
 Guide to Soil Types

What to Appearance Water

When Moist When Dry
look for /Feel Movement
Granular Coarse When water Very little or Little or no
soils, fine grains can and soil are no plasticity cohesive
sands and be seen. shaken in strength
silts Feels gritty palm of when dry.
when rubbed hand, they Soil sample
between mix. When will crumble
fingers shaking is easily.
stopped they
separate
Cohesive Grains cannot When water Plastic and Has high
soils, mixes be seen by and soil are sticky. Can strength
and clays naked eye. shaken in be rolled when dry.
Feels smooth
palm of Crumbles
and greasy
when rubbed hand, they with
between will not mix difficulty.
fingers Slow
saturation in
water.
 Compaction Equipment
 Most of the compaction in the field is
done with rollers.
 The four common types of rollers are
1. Smooth-wheel rollers (or smooth-drum
rollers)
2. Pneumatic rubber – tired rollers
3. Sheepsfoot rollers
4. Vibratory rollers
Smooth-wheel rollers are suitable for proof rolling subgrades and
for finishing operation of fills with sandy and clayey soils. These
rollers provide 100% coverage under the wheels, with ground
contact pressures as high as 310 to 380 KN/m^2.
Pneumatic rubber-tired rollers are better in many respects than the
smooth-wheel rollers. The former are heavily loaded with several rows
of tires. The contact pressure under the tires can range from 600 to 700
KN/m^2, and they produce about 70 to 80% coverage. Pneumatic
rollers can be used for sandy and clayey soil compaction.
Sheepsfoot rollers are drums with large number of projections. These
rollers are most effective in compacting clayey soils. The contact
pressure under the projections can range from 1400 to 7000 KN/m^2.
Vibratory rollers are extremely efficient in compacting granular soils.
Vibrators can be attached to smooth-wheel, pneumatic rubber-tired,or
sheepsfoot rollers to provide vibratory effects to the soil. The figure
demonstrates the principles of vibratory rollers. The vibration is produced
by rotating off-center weights.
 Materials
Vibrating Static Sheepsfoot Vibrating Plate Scraper
Sheepsfoot Grid Roller Compactor Rubber-tired
Scraper Vibrating Roller Roller
Rammer
Vibrating Loader
Sheepsfoot Grid Roller

Pressure Kneading
Lift Thickness Impact Vibration
(with kneading) (with pressure)

Gravel 12+ Poor No Good Very Good

Sand 10+/- Poor No Excellent Good

Silt 6+/- Good Good Poor Excellent

Clay 6+/- Excellent Very Good No Good

 Fill Materials

Compaction
Permeability Foundation Support Pavement Sub grade Expansive
Difficulty

Gravel Very High Excellent Excellent No Very Easy

Sand Medium Good Good No Easy

Silt Medium Low Poor Poor Some Some

Clay None+ Moderate Poor Difficult Very Difficult

Organic Low Very Poor Not Acceptable Some Very Difficult

 Moisture vs. Soil Density
Moisture content of the soil is vital to proper compaction.
Moisture acts as a lubricant within soil, sliding the particles
together.
Too little moisture means inadequate compaction - the
particles cannot move past each other to achieve density

Too much moisture leaves water-filled voids and

subsequently weakens the load-bearing ability.

The highest density for most soils is at a certain water

content for a given compaction effort.
The drier the soil, the more resistant it is to compaction.
In a water-saturated state the voids between particles are
partially filled with water, creating an apparent cohesion that
binds them together.
This cohesion increases as the particle size decreases (as
in clay-type soils). l
 How to determine if proper soil compaction
is achieved for any specific
Construction application?

* SOIL DENSITY TEST

*Measures density of soil for comparing the

degree of compaction vs. specs

*Measures the effect of moisture on soil

density vs. specs

*Provides a moisture density curve

identifying optimum moisture
 TYPES OF TESTS
•PROCTOR TEST OR
• MODEFIED PROCTOR TEST

-A particular soil needs to have an ideal ( or

optimum ) amount of moisture to achieve
maximum density.

This is important not only for durability, but will

save money because less compaction effort is
.needed
. to achieve the desired results
 HAND TEST
A quick method of determining moisture

If the soil is powdery and will not retain the shape made by
your hand, it is too dry.

If it shatters when dropped, it is too dry

If the soil is moldable and breaks into only a couple of
pieces when dropped, it has the right amount of moisture for
proper compaction.
If the soil is plastic in your hand, leaves traces of moisture
on your fingers and stays in one piece when dropped, it has
too much moisture for compaction.
 Proctor Test (ASTM D1557-91)

* determines the maximum density of a soil needed for a

specific job site.

The test first determines the maximum density achievable for

the materials and uses this figure as a reference.
Secondly, it tests the effects of moisture on soil density .

The soil reference value is expressed as a percentage of

density.

These values are determined before any compaction takes

place to develop the compaction specifications.

Modified Proctor values are higher because they take into

account higher densities needed foe certain typed of
construction projects
 Proctor Test

A small soil sample is taken from the jobsite.

A standard weight is dropped several times on the soil.

The material weighed and then oven dried for 12 hours

in order to evaluate water content
 Modified Proctor Test

This is similar to the Proctor Test except a hammer is used

to compact material for greater impact
The test is normally preferred in testing materials for
higher shearing strength.
γ = W/V
Where W = weight of the compacted soil in the mold
V = volume of the mold ( 943.3 cu. cm)
For each test, the moisture content of the
compacted soil is determined in the laboratory.

γd= γ / (1 + w/ 100 )
Factors affecting Compaction

Soil type
Compaction effort ( energy per unit
volume)
Soil type-
* grain size distribution
* shape of the soil grain
* specific gravity of soil solids
* amount and type of clay minerals present
curve A LL – 30 to 70 Curve B and C -- LL less than 30

curve C or D – LL greater than 70

Effect of compaction Effort

( number of blows per layer) x (number of layers) x

(weight of hammer) x (height of drop of hammer)
E=
Volume of Mold
Example:

(25) (3)(2.5 kg x9.81m/s^2) ( 0.305 m)

E= 944 x 10^-6 m^3

E = 594 KN-m/m^3
 Specification for field
compaction
* contractor must achieve a
compacted field dry unit weight of
90% to 95% of the maximum dry unit
weight determined in the laboratory
 Relative Compaction R

R (%) = dry unit weight (field)

dry unit weight (max -lab)
 Granular Soils

R = 80 + 0.2 Dr

Dr= Relative density

 Field Tests
It is important to know and control the soil density during
compaction.
Following are common field tests to determine on the
spot if compaction densities are being reached
 Field Density Testing Method

Sand Cone Balloon Dens meter Shelby Tube Nuclear Gauge

•Large sample * Fast

* Fast
* Direct * Easy to redo
* Large sample * Deep sample
Advantages reading obtained * More tests
* Accurate * Under pipe
* Open graded (statistical
haunches
material reliability)
* Many steps
* Large area * No sample
* Small Sample
required * Slow * Radiation
* No gravel
Disadvantages * Slow * Balloon breakage * Moisture suspect
* Sample not
* Halt Equipment * Awkward * Encourages
always retained
* Tempting to amateurs
accept flukes
* Miscalibrated
* Void under plate
* Surface not level * Overdrive * Rocks in path
* Sand bulking
Errors * Soil pumping * Rocks in path * Surface prep
* Sand compacted
* Void under plate * Plastic soil required
* Soil pumping
* Backscatter
Cost * Low * Moderate * Low * High
 Sand Cone Test (ASTM D1556-90)

A small hole (6" x 6" deep) is dug in the compacted

material to be tested.

The soil is removed and weighed, then dried and weighed

again to determine its moisture content.

The specific volume of the hole is determined by filling it

with calibrated dry sand from a jar and cone device.

The dry weight of the soil removed is divided by the volume

of sand needed to fill the hole.
This gives us the density of the compacted soil in lbs per
cubic foot.

This density is compared to the maximum Proctor

density
SAND CONE TEST
 Nuclear Density (ASTM D2292-91)

Nuclear Density meters are a quick and fairly accurate

way of determining density and moisture content.
The meter uses a radioactive isotope source (Cesium 137) at the soil
surface (backscatter) or from a probe placed into the soil (direct
transmission).

The isotope source gives off photons (usually Gamma rays) which
radiate back to the mater's detectors on the bottom of the unit.

Dense soil absorbs more radiation than loose soil and the readings
reflect overall density.

Water content (ASTM D3017) can also be read, all within a few
minutes.
 Compaction Equipment
The desired level of compaction is best achieved by
matching the soil type with its proper compaction
method.
Cohesive soils - clay is cohesive, its particles stick
together.* Therefore, a machine with a high impact force
is required to ram the soil and force the air out, arranging
the particles. A rammer is the best choice, or a pad-foot
vibratory roller if higher production is needed.
Equipment Types

RAMMERS

VIBRATORY PLATES

ROLLER
Granular soils - since granular soils are not cohesive and
the particles require a shaking or vibratory action to move
them, vibratory plates (forward travel) are the best choice.
 Equipment Applications

Granular Soils Sand and Clay Cohesive Clay Asphalt

Not
Not Testing
Rammers Best Application Recommend
Recommended Recommended
ed

Testing Not Best

Vibratory Plates Best Application
Recommended Recommended Application

Not
Testing
Reversible Plates Best Application Best Application Recommend
Recommended
ed

Not Testing Best

Vibratory Rollers Best Application
Recommended Recommended Application

Not
Testing
Rammax Rollers Best Application Best Application Recommend
Recommended
ed
Take note:

Field specification for a certain soil

can be established using a laboratory
test called the Proctor test.
Field compaction can be checked by
performing the field density test.