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Compressibility (Deformation) in soils

Compaction
Compression by external stress with the
removal of air from the voids
Consolidation
Compression by external stress with the
removal of water
low permeable soils take longer time
time dependent
Reverse process is known as Swelling

Compaction
The higher the degree of compaction
the higher the shear strength
the lower the compressibility
In the field, loose soil is placed in layers
ranging between 75 mm and 450 mm in
thickness
each layer being compacted to a specified
standards by means of rollers, vibrators,
rammers etc.,

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degree of compaction is measured in terms

of dry density
d

1 m

after compaction dry density (d) depends

on;
water content
compactive effort
(energy supplied by the compaction
equipment)

at low values of moisture content

most soils tend to be stiff and are
difficult to compact
as the water content increases
soil becomes more workable and
facilitating compaction
at higher water content
increasing proportion of soil volume
being occupied by water and therefore,
d decreases.

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d
d max

0% air voids curve

omc
moisture content
if all the air voids in a soil could be expelled by
compaction
full saturation (at this stage, d is maximum
for a given moisture content)
** this is unattainable in practice

Laboratory Compaction
(BS 1377: 1990 Part 4)
Standard Proctor Compaction Test
Soil with particles > 20 mm
removed
Standard mould volume
= 1000 cm3

Fill in 3 layers,
each layer compacted by 27 blows
using a standard rammer (mass of 2.5 kg)
fall freely through 300 mm for each blow.

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Modified Proctor Compaction Test

Soil with particles > 20 mm removed
Standard mould volume 1000 cm3
Fill in 5 layers, each layer compacted by
27 blows
using a modified rammer (mass of 4.5 kg)
fall freely through 450 mm for each blow.
For a given soil the process is repeated 5
times, increasing water content each time.

Dry density (d)

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Line of Optimum
Compaction curves
for different efforts

Higher the effort

Higher the dry density

Line of optimum

Lower the optimum

moisture content

Water content

Field Compaction
(d)max in lab tests using 2.5 kg and 4.5 kg
rammers cover the range of dry densities
normally produced by field compaction
equipments.
Number of passes required to produce d?
depends on
type and mass of
equipment

thickness of the soil

layer

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above a certain no. of passes

no significant increase in d is obtained
the thicker the soil layer,
the heavier the equipment required to
produce an adequate degree of
compaction

Smooth wheeled rollers

consist of hollow steel drums
suitable for most soils
(except uniform sand, silty sand)
produce smooth surface
relatively poor
bonding

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Pneumatic tyred rollers

suitable for wide range of coarse and fine soils
wheels mounted closely to ensure the
complete coverage of soil surface
tyres are relatively wide with a flat tread, so
that the soil is not displaced laterally
relatively smooth finished
surface resulting in a low
degree of bonding
between layers

increasing tyre inflation pressure increases

the compactive effort

Sheeps foot rollers
consist of hollow steel drum with tapered feet
projecting from its surface
will apply relatively high pressure over a small
area
most suitable for fine
soils and coarse soils
with fines >20%

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action of feet causes significant mixing of

soil
improve degree of homogeneity and will
break the lumps of stiff soils
due to feet penetration; produce excellent
bonding

Power rammers
generally petrol driven
manually controlled
used for small areas
where access is difficult
or where the use of large equipments
not justified
extensively used in backfilling of
trenches
not effective for uniform soils

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Compaction Specifications
Compaction performance parameters are
given on a construction project in one of
two ways
1 Method Specification
detailed instructions specify
machine type,
lift depths,
number of passes,
machine speed and moisture contents.

2 End-result Specification
Only final compaction requirements are
specified
ex: 95% modified or standard Proctor
This method gives the contractor much
more flexibility in determining the
best,
economical method
of meeting the required specifications

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Specifications will refer to % Relative

Compaction
% Relative Compaction
R %

d field
d max lab

100

10