Anxin Construction Engineering Co.

, Ltd
Address: No.49, street 1729+1812, Russey Keo, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Phone: +855 718 155 966(English)/+855 979 602 993(Chinese)/+855 888 552 551(Cambodia)

REPORT ON GEOTECHNICAL INVESTIGATION

PROJECT : THE PALMS

LOCATION : PHNOM PENH CITY

PHNOM PENH CITY – 09/2019

FINAL REPORT ON SOIL COMPACTION INVESTIGATION FOR THE PALMS PROJECT Page 1

TABLE OF CONTENT

1. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................................... 2

2. PURPOSE OF COMPACTION ....................................................................................................................... 3

3. FIELD AND LABORATORY INVESTIGATION ........................................................................................... 3

3.1. Field investigation - core cutter method .......................................................................................... 3

3.2. Laboratory investigation - modified proctor test .......................................................................... 3

3.3. Relative compaction ................................................................................................................................. 3

4. RESULTS OF SOIL COMPACTION............................................................................................................... 4

FINAL REPORT ON SOIL COMPACTION INVESTIGATION FOR THE PALMS PROJECT Page 2

1. INTRODUCTION

THE SOIL COMPACTION INVESTIGATION FOR THE PALMS project – PHNOM PENH CITY
location was performed by Anxin Construction Engineering Co., Ltd.

Soil compaction is one of the most important aspects of any earthwork construction.
Compaction improves the engineering properties of the fills. Nearly all compaction
specifications are based on achieving a certain value of dry unit weight (d). During
construction, the geotechnical engineers measure the unit weight of compacted soil in the
field to verify the contractor’s compliance with the requirement.

The behavior of every foundation, roads, embankment, airfields etc depends primarily on the
engineering characteristics of the underlying deposits of soil or rock. The proper compaction
of the soil is intended to ensure that the compacted soil will reliably and safely withstand
loads of various kinds. Soil compaction on construction sites occurs either deliberately when
foundations and sub grades are prepared or as an unintended result of vehicular traffic
(Randrup and Dralle 1997). Soil compaction decreases porosity (e.g. Harris 1971). To
determine whether a soil is compacted or not, and thus whether a treatment is necessary for
the alleviation of soil compaction, the degree of compaction needs to be quantified.

It has been said that the top three factors in real estate are “location, location and location”.
It can also be said that the top three factors in foundation and embankment construction are
“compaction, compaction, and compaction”. Compaction is the process by which the volume
of air in a embankment mixture is reduced by using external forces to reorient the
constituent aggregate particles into a more closely spaced arrangement. This reduction of air
volume in a mixture produces a corresponding increase in unit weight or density (Roberts et
al. 1996). Numerous researchers have stated that compaction is the greatest determining
factor in dense graded embankment performance (Scherocman and Martenson, 1984;
Scherocman, 1984; Geller, 1984; Brown, 1984; Bell et. al., 1984; Hughes, 1989). Among the
major causes for failure of foundation and embankment is inadequate compaction during
construction. There is, therefore, the need to strictly control the compaction of the
embankment layers if the design life of the foundation and embankment is to be attained.

Soil compaction in site of this project was done by core cutter method. The laboratory
tests (Modified Proctor Test) were carried out to find out the dry unit weight. The maximum
dry unit weight in relation to optimum moisture content was obtained. Relative compaction
(CR) of soil at each location was then calculated to the soil compaction.
FINAL REPORT ON SOIL COMPACTION INVESTIGATION FOR THE PALMS PROJECT Page 3

2. PURPOSE OF COMPACTION

Soils become compacted by the simple application of pressure from foot traffic, vehicles and
even rain drops. The greater this pressure, the greater the soil compaction. The purpose of
compaction is to improve the qualities of the soil used either as a sub-grade materials for
embankment or in the fills of any project. There are 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.

3. FIELD AND LABORATORY INVESTIGATION

3.1. Field investigation - core cutter method

One of the most common field density test methods is the ‘Core cutter method’. This method
was carried out according to ASTM D1556.

3.2. Laboratory investigation - modified proctor test

This method consists of compacting the soil in the laboratory to obtain maximum dry unit
weight (d (max)), then requiring the compactor to achieve at least some specified percentage
of this value in the field by the ‘Modified Proctor Test’. This method was carried out in
accordance with ASTM D1557.

3.3. Relative compaction

Relative compaction is the percentage ratio of the field dry unit weight of soil to the
maximum dry unit weight as determined by modified compaction method. Once the
maximum dry unit weight has been established for the soil being used in the compacted fill,
we can express the degree of compaction achieved in the field by using the relative
compaction, CR.
d
CR   100
 d(max)

Where:

d = dry unit weight achieved in the field

d(max) = maximum dry unit weight (from modified proctor compaction test)
FINAL REPORT ON SOIL COMPACTION INVESTIGATION FOR THE PALMS PROJECT Page 4

Most earthwork specifications are written in terms of the relative compaction, and require
the contractor to achieve at least a certain value of CR. The minimum acceptable value of CR
listed in a project specification is a compromise between cost and quality. If a low value is
specified, then the contractor can easily achieve the required compaction and presumably,
will perform the work for a low price. Unfortunately, the quality will be low. Conversely, a
high specified value is more difficult to achieve and will cost more, but will produce a high-
quality fill. Table 3.1 presents typical requirements.

Table 3.1: Typical compaction requirements

Type of Project Minimum Required Relative Compaction

Fills to support building or roadways 90%

Upper 150 mm of sub grade below roadways 95%

Aggregate base material below roadways 95%

Earth dams 100%

In this project, the required compaction standard should be:

- From ground surface to depth of 50cm: CR = 95%;

- Below the depth of 50cm: CR = 90%.

4. RESULTS OF SOIL COMPACTION

The results of soil compaction are given below:

BLOCK2 - Layer 3 - POINT 1:

CR1 = (16.48/16.67)*100 = 98.9%

BLOCK2 - Layer 3 - POINT 2:

CR2 = (16.09/16.67)*100 = 96.5%

BLOCK2 - Layer 3 - POINT 3:

CR3 = (16.25/16.67)*100 = 97.5%

Detailed results of soil compaction in site and in laboratory are shown in appendices.

---------oOo---------
 IN-SITU DENSITY DETERMINATION TEST
BY CORE CUTTER METHOD
(ASTM D1556)

Project: THE PALMS

Location: PHNOM PENH CITY

Description of soil: Compaction test sheet no.

MDD 16.67 kN/m3
Date of test: 18/09/2019 OMC 15.34 %

Test number 1 2 3

BLOCK2, BLOCK2, BLOCK2,

Position of test Layer 3 Layer 3 Layer 3
POINT - 1 POINT - 2 POINT - 3

Core cutter number 3 3 3

Mass of soil + core cutter (ms) g 163.00 155.00 161.00
Mass of core cutter (mc) g 40.94 40.94 40.94
Weight of soil (ms - mc) g 122.06 114.06 120.06
Volume of core cutter (V) cm3 59.64 59.64 59.64
Bulk unit weight of soil  = 9.81*(ms - mc)/V kN/m3 20.08 18.76 19.75

MOISTURE CONTENT DETERMINATIONS

Container number 42 5 12
Mass of wet soil + container (m1) g 50.00 57.00 57.00
Mass of dry soil + container (m2) g 44.55 51.69 50.41
Mass of moisture (m3 = m1 - m2) g 5.45 5.31 6.59
Mass of container (m4) g 19.64 19.76 19.84
Mass of dry soil (m5 = m2 - m4) g 24.91 31.93 30.57
Moisture content w = m3/m5 * 100 % 21.88 16.63 21.56
Dry unit weight d = 100/(100+w) kN/m3 16.48 16.09 16.25
Maximum dry unit weight MDD kN/m3 16.67 16.67 16.67
Relative compaction CR % 98.9 96.5 97.5

Remarks:

Consultant Contractor Technician Approved by

Project THE PALMS
Sample No. MPC1
Location PHNOM PENH CITY

Description Date tested 07/11/2018

Mold Rammer Test method

Diameter 15.21 cm Volume 2119 cm³ Mass 4.5 kg No. of layers 3

Height 11.67 cm Mass 4056 g Drop 45.7 cm Blows per layer 25

No. (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) Maximum dry unit weight 16.67 kN/m³

Moisture content % 11.20 13.92 15.34 17.44 19.68 Optimum moisture content 15.34 %

Dry unit weight kN/m³ 16.33 16.56 16.67 16.53 16.06

17.50

17.00
Dry unit weight (kN/m³)

16.50

16.00

15.50
6.00 8.00 10.00 12.00 14.00 16.00 18.00 20.00 22.00
Moisture content (%)

Consultant Contractor Technician Approved by

MODIFIED PROCTOR COMPACTION TEST

(ASTM D1557-00)