3.

Soil Compaction

Soil Mechanics
2010 - 2011

Soil Compaction
‡ Is the application of mechanical energy to densify the soil
by reducing the volume of air, and thus reducing the total
volume.
‡ Applications (examples):
„ Soil replacement
„ Earth dams
„ Pavement structures
‡ Benefits of compaction:
„ Increase soil’s strength
„ Reduce soil settlement
„ Reduce soil permeability
‡ The dry density of the soil changes due to compaction,
where: W
γ dry = s
VT
Dr. Manal A. Salem – Soil Mechanics

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Factors controlling compaction
1. Water content
2. Energy of compaction
3. Soil type

Dr. Manal A. Salem – Soil Mechanics

Effect of water content

‡ The dry density – water content relationship
(Compaction Curve) passes through 4 phases
during compaction: γdry
1. Hydration
soil particles absorb
water to saturate
particles + provide 2 3
minor lubrication,
γdry increases
1 4
2. Lubrication
water forms thin films
around particles, acts as water content (%)
lubricant, γdry increases,
densest packing

Dr. Manal A. Salem – Soil Mechanics

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Effect of water content
‡ The dry density – water content relationship
(Compaction Curve) passes through 4 phases
during compaction: γdry
3. Swelling
adding more water
causes solid particles to
move away from each 2 3
other, γdry decreases

1 4
4. Saturation
adding more water fills
most of the voids
between particles, γdry water content (%)
decreases, sample is
close to saturation

Dr. Manal A. Salem – Soil Mechanics

Effect of water content

‡ From compaction curve, get:
„ γdry,max = maximum dry density
„ OMC = optimum moisture content
γdry

γdmax

OMC
water content (%)

Dr. Manal A. Salem – Soil Mechanics

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Effect of compaction energy

γdry

E3
E1 < E2 < E3
E2

E1

water content (%)

Dr. Manal A. Salem – Soil Mechanics

Effect of compaction energy

‡ As the compaction energy increases:
1. γdry,max increases
2. OMC decreases

‡ Compaction curve is the relationship between dry density

(γd) and water content (w) for a specific soil compacted at
constant energy. Determined in the laboratory.

‡ Compaction curves for different energies never intersect.

Dr. Manal A. Salem – Soil Mechanics

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Effect of soil type
‡ Different soil types compacted at the same energy:

2.0

1.9
Gravel

1.8
γ dry (t/m 3)

1.7
Sand
1.6
Silt
1.5
Clay
1.4

1.3
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
Water Content (%)

Dr. Manal A. Salem – Soil Mechanics

Effect of soil type

‡ OMCclay > OMCsilt > OMCsand > OMCgravel
(remember: OMC at end of lubrication stage. Lubrication is
directly proportional to the surface area of solid particles)
2.0
‡ Curvature of
Gravel
compaction curve for
1.9

clay > silt > sand > 1.8

gravel.
γ dry (t/m 3)

1.7
Sand
As the curvature 1.6
Silt
increases, the effect of 1.5

water content on γdry Clay

1.4

increases. 1.3
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
Water Content (%)

Dr. Manal A. Salem – Soil Mechanics

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Saturation Curve
‡ Saturation curve is the relationship between dry
density (γd) and water content (w) for a specific soil
compacted at constant degree of saturation (S).
γdry

γdmax

Saturation curve

OMC
water content (%)

Dr. Manal A. Salem – Soil Mechanics

Saturation Curve
‡ Calculated, not measured in lab. γdry
γdmax

‡ Find γd in terms of w, Gs, and S:

Assume Ws = 1
Ww
w= = Ww
Ws Saturation curve
1
Vs = water content (%)
Gs γ w OMC

Ww w Air
Vw = = w/γwS
γw γw
w/γw Water w
V w
Vv = w =
S Sγ w
1/Gsγw Solid 1
Ws 1
γd = =
VT w 1
+
γ w S γ w Gs Volumes Weights
Dr. Manal A. Salem – Soil Mechanics

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Saturation Curve
γdry
γdmax 100% saturation curve
“Zero air voids curve”
1
γd =
w 1
+
γ w S γ w Gs
50% saturation curve

OMC water content (%)

‡ To draw 100% saturation curve, substitute S = 1. To draw

50% saturation curve, use S = 0.5.

‡ 100% saturation curve never intersect compaction curve.

Dr. Manal A. Salem – Soil Mechanics

Laboratory compaction tests

1. Standard Proctor Test
Determine compaction curves
2. Modified Proctor Test

Dr. Manal A. Salem – Soil Mechanics

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Standard Proctor Test

Dr. Manal A. Salem – Soil Mechanics

Standard Proctor Test

‡ Volume of compaction mold (V) = 1/30 ft3
‡ Weight of hammer (W) = 5.5 lb
‡ Hammer drop (H) = 12 inches = 1ft
‡ Four to five soil samples are mixed at different water
contents.
‡ Each sample is compacted in the mold in 3 equal
layers, each layer is hit by N = 25 blows with the
hammer, which is falling freely (drop = 1ft).
‡ Compaction energy (E) = WHN x no. of layers/V
= 5.5 x 1 x 25 x 3 / (1/30)
~ 12000 lb ft/ft3

Dr. Manal A. Salem – Soil Mechanics

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 Standard Proctor Test
‡ After compacting each specimen, get the weight of
the compacted wet soil in the mold (W).
‡ Calculate γwet = W/Vmold
‡ Measure the water content (w) of the wet soil sample
in the mold
‡ Given: w, γwet. Calculate: γdry
Air
W 1
γ dry = s = w
VT 1 + w Water
(1+w)/γwet
γ wet
γ wet Solid 1
γ dry =
1+ w
Volumes Weights
‡ Plot γdry versus w, and get γdry,max and OMC.
Dr. Manal A. Salem – Soil Mechanics

Example
Mold data: The volume = 946 cm3
The weight = 4263 gm

Test No. 1 2 3 4 5 6

Wt. of Mold + Soil (gm) 5900 6045 6200 6230 6120 6050

Water Content (%) 5.1 6.3 7.1 8.2 9.8 12.8

5900-4263 6045-4263 6200-4263 6230-4263 6120-4263 6050-4263

Wt. Soil (gm)
=1637 =1782 =1937 =1967 =1857 =1787

W
γ wet = (t / m3 ) 1637
= 1.73
1782
= 1.88 2.05 2.08 1.96 1.89
Vmold 946 946

γ wet 1.73 1.88

γ dry = (t / m3 ) = 1.65 = 1.77
w 5.1 6.3 1.91 1.92 1.79 1.67
1+ 1+ 1+
100 100 100

Dr. Manal A. Salem – Soil Mechanics

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 Example
γdry
(t/m3) 1.95
γdmax=1.93 t/m3
1.9

1.85

1.8

1.75

1.7

1.65
OMC = 7.65 %
1.6
4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

water content (%)

Dr. Manal A. Salem – Soil Mechanics

Example
γdry
(t/m3)

Not Acceptable
Adjust your scale

water content (%)

Dr. Manal A. Salem – Soil Mechanics

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Modified Proctor Test
‡ Volume of compaction mold (V) = 1/30 ft3
‡ Weight of hammer (W) = 10 lb
‡ Hammer drop (H) = 18 inches = 1.5 ft
‡ Four to five soil samples are mixed at different
water contents.
‡ Each sample is compacted in the mold in 5 equal
layers, each layer is hit by N = 25 blows with the
hammer, which is falling freely (drop = 1.5 ft).
‡ Compaction energy (E) = WHN x no. of layers/V
= 10 x 1.5 x 25 x 5 / (1/30)
~ 56000 lb ft/ft3

Dr. Manal A. Salem – Soil Mechanics

Standard versus modified Proctor tests

γdry
(t/m3)
Modified

Emodified > Estandard

γmodified > γstandard Standard

OMCmodified < OMCstandard water content (%)

Dr. Manal A. Salem – Soil Mechanics

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Field Compaction
‡ Soil is compacted in layers, 20 to 50 cm thick.
‡ Based on laboratory defined compaction curves, target
field water content is defined to obtain target field dry
density.
‡ Equipment for field compaction
ƒSmooth-wheel rollers (Static compaction)
ƒRubber-tired roller
ƒSheepsfoot rollers (Kneeding compaction)
ƒVibratory rollers
ƒVibratory plates

Dr. Manal A. Salem – Soil Mechanics

Field Compaction Equipment

Smooth-wheel roller Æ suitable for all types of soil

Dr. Manal A. Salem – Soil Mechanics

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Field Compaction Equipment

Rubber-tired rollers Æ suitable for all types of soil

Dr. Manal A. Salem – Soil Mechanics

Field Compaction Equipment

Sheepsfoot rollers Æ suitable for fine-grained soil

Dr. Manal A. Salem – Soil Mechanics

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Field Compaction Equipment

Vibratory rollers Æ suitable for coarse-grained soil (vibrators attached

to smooth-wheel or rubber-tired rollers)
Dr. Manal A. Salem – Soil Mechanics

Field Compaction Equipment

Mounted on machine
Hand-held

Vibratory plate compactor Æ suitable for all types of soil

Dr. Manal A. Salem – Soil Mechanics

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Specifications for field compaction
‡ In most specifications, it is required to achieve a dry
density of 90 to 98% of maximum dry density obtained
from standard or modified Proctor tests.

‡ This is a specification for relative compaction:

γ dfield
Relative Compaction = ×100
γ d max

‡ Field dry density can be determine by conducting “Sand

Cone Test”

Dr. Manal A. Salem – Soil Mechanics

Sand Cone Test

Cone

Valve

Standard sand Jar

γstandard sand

Sand cone apparatus

Dr. Manal A. Salem – Soil Mechanics

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Sand Cone Test

Open valve

Metal plate

For excavated soil,

determine:
- Weight
- Water content
Dr. Manal A. Salem – Soil Mechanics

Sand Cone Test

W2 W1
After test Before test

W1 – W2 = weight of standard sand that filled (cone + hole)

Volume of (cone + hole) = (W1 – W2)/γstandardsand
Volume of hole = Volume of (cone + hole) – Volume of cone
Dr. Manal A. Salem – Soil Mechanics

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Sand Cone Test
W1 – W2 = weight of standard sand that filled cone + hole
Volume of (cone + hole) = (W1 – W2)/γstandardsand
Volume of hole = Volume of (cone + hole) – Volume of cone
Volume of hole = Volume of excavated soil = VT

γwet = WT/VT

γ wet
γ d , field =
1+ w

γ d , field
RC = ×100
γ d max

Dr. Manal A. Salem – Soil Mechanics

Sand Cone Test

‰ Excavate of a hole in the ground.
‰ The hole is filled with standard sand using the sand cone apparatus.
‰ The volume of hole equals the volume of standard sand that filled the hole.
‰ γwet is calculated using weight of excavated soil divided by the volume of hole.
‰ The water content of the extracted soil is measured.
‰ γdfield is calculated.
‰RC is calculated.
‰The field compaction is compared to RC specification
‰If RC < specified value, field compaction is rejected, recompacted until RC
meets the specification.

Dr. Manal A. Salem – Soil Mechanics

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