International Journal of Geotechnical Engineering

ISSN: 1938-6362 (Print) 1939-7879 (Online) Journal homepage: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/yjge20

Effects of fines on compaction characteristics of

poorly graded sands

Kousik Deb, V. Sawant & A. Kiran

To cite this article: Kousik Deb, V. Sawant & A. Kiran (2010) Effects of fines on compaction
characteristics of poorly graded sands, International Journal of Geotechnical Engineering, 4:2,
299-304, DOI: 10.3328/IJGE.2010.04.02.299-304

To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.3328/IJGE.2010.04.02.299-304

Published online: 04 Sep 2013.

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 299
Technical Note
Kousik Deb,1* V. A. Sawant2 and A. S. Kiran3

Effects of fines on compaction

characteristics of poorly graded sands

Abstract:  For preliminary design and assessment, various researchers have correlated the compaction characteristics with
different soil properties. In this study, an effort is made to correlate the compaction characteristics of poorly graded sand with
the percentage of fines present in it. Plastic and non plastic fines are added to poorly graded sands in varying quantities and
the changes in maximum dry unit weight and optimum moisture content are studied. It has been found from the studies that
the addition of fines up to a certain amount increases the maximum dry unit weight of poorly graded sands and the amount
of increase depends on the uniformity coefficient value of the sand.
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Keywords:  Compaction, poorly graded sands, plastic and non plastic fines, optimum moisture content, maximum dry
unit weight.

1. INTRODUCTION
Soils occurring in nature are composed of particles of dif-
ferent sizes in varying percentages. Soil can contain a large
amount of void spaces. Compaction is the application of
mechanical energy to a soil to rearrange the particles and
reduce the void ratio. Compaction of existing soils or fills is
required for the construction of earth dams, canal embank-
ments, highways, runways and in many other engineering
applications. Compaction of loose fills is a simple way of
increasing the stability and load bearing capacity of soils.
The main purposes of compaction are to increase the shear
strength of the soil, reduce subsequent settlement under
working loads, reduce the void ratio making it more difficult
for water to flow through soil and prevent the buildup of
large water pressure that causes soil to liquefy during earth-
quakes. The factors affecting compaction are water content
of the soil, type of soil being compacted, amount of compac-
tive energy used and addition of admixtures.
The size of individual particles has an important influ-
ence on the behavior of soils. Generally soil can be classified
*Corresponding Author
Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Kharagpur, India,
1
Email: kousik_deb@rediffmail.com
Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Roorkee, India,
2
Email: sawntfce@iitr.ernet.in
Former M. Tech Student, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Roorkee,
3
India, Email: kiran.nta@gmail.com
International Journal of Geotechnical Engineering (2010) 4: (299-304)
DOI 10.3328/IJGE.2010.04.02.299-304
into gravel, sand, silt and clay based on their particle size.
Gravel and sand are the coarse grained soils while silt and
clay are the fine grained soils. Studies have been conducted
on the effects of fines on the different properties of sands.
It includes undrained shear strength (Salgado et al., 2000;
Bloomfield and Ware, 2004), liquefaction resistance and
pore pressure generation (Polito and Martin, 2001; Naeini
and Baziar, 2004; Sadek and Saleh, 2007; Derakhshandi et al.,
2008), mechanical properties, compressive strength (Ni et al.,
2004), stress attenuation during dynamic compaction (Chen
and Lin, 2002).
Bloomfield and Ware (2004) carried out heavy com-
paction tests on coastal dune sands with varying amount
of plastic fines. It has been observed that at lower moisture
content the addition of 10% fines greatly increases the maxi-
mum dry density of the soil. It has been also observed that
the optimum of fines to sand ratio occurs at between 0.2 and
0.3. Kim et al. (2004) conducted compaction tests on decom-
posed granitic soil and it has been observed that as the fine
aggregate content increases, the dry density decreases and
the optimum moisture content increases.
Various attempts have been made in the past to cor-
relate the compaction characteristics with soil properties
(Sridharan and Nagaraj, 2005; Gunaydin, 2008). Very less
study has been done on the effects of fines on compaction
characteristics of soil. The studies conducted also did not
give the same kind of results. In the case of sands, well graded
sands (uniformity coefficient, Cu is larger than 6 and coeffi-
cient of curvature, Cc is between 1 and 3, Lambe and Witman,
J. Ross Publishing, Inc. © 2010
 300  International Journal of Geotechnical Engineering

Table 1 Experimental program

Properties Sand A Sand B
Specific gravity 2.654 2.67
Uniformity coefficient, Cu 4.7 1.45
Coefficient of gradation, Cc 0.7 0.96
Maximum void ratio, emax 0.58 0.8
Minimum void ratio, emin 0.386 0.62

Table 2. Properties of fines

Properties Plastic fines Non plastic fines
Specific gravity 2.763 2.685
Liquid limit 43.5% _
Plastic limit 18.0% _
Plasticity Index 25.5 _
% silt content 52 93
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Figure 1.  Particle size distribution curves for sands. % clay content 48 7
Maximum dry unit weight
γdmax (kN/m3) 17.4 15.9
2000) can achieve a very high dry density during compac-
OMC (%) 18.6 20
tion than the poorly graded sands, especially if they contain
some fines (Ranjan and Rao, 2000). However, if the quantity
of fines is excessive, maximum dry density decreases. The
poorly graded sands contain a large amount of voids and lead 2.2. Light Compaction Test
to the lowest dry unit weight values (Ranjan and Rao, 2000).
Hence it is required to study the effect of fines on compaction To determine the compaction characteristics, light compac-
characteristics of poorly graded sands. The effects of plastic tion tests (equivalent of the Standard Proctor Compaction
and non plastic fines on compaction characteristics of poorly Test) have been conducted as per IS: 2720 (Part VII)-1980.
graded sands are also unknown. In this study, an effort is In order to evaluate the effects of fines, tests were conducted
made to accomplish all these shortcomings. with different fines contents of 0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40% and
50 % by weight. These tests were carried out for both the sand
samples by adding plastic or non plastic fines.
2. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE

2.1. Sample Preparation 3. DETERMINATION OF SPECIFIC GRAVITY

2.1.1: Sands
Two types of poorly graded sands (A and B) have been
selected for the study. Sand samples were prepared by col-
lecting particles in the size range 4.75mm to 0.075mm
through sieving. Particle size distribution curves are shown
in Figure 1. Specific gravity, maximum and minimum void
ratio of the sand samples were determined and presented in
Table 1.
2.1.2: Plastic and Non Plastic Fines
Both plastic and non plastic fines have been sieved through
0.075mm sieve. For plastic fines; specific gravity, liquid limit,
plastic limit and hydrometer analysis were conducted and
for non plastic fines; specific gravity and hydrometer analysis
were carried out. The properties of fines are given in Table 2.
FOR MIXED SOIL
The soil samples have been prepared in different propor-
tions of sand and fines. Thus, it is required to determine the
specific gravity of samples with various proportions of sand
and fine. The specific gravity of the sand and the fines can
be determined separately before mixing. Using this value the
specific gravity value of each sample can be evaluated. The
expression for determining the specific gravity of the mix is
obtained as given below.
Specific gravity of soil is given by the basic formula,
γ
G = γs (1)
w
where γs is unit weight of soil solids and γw is unit weight of
water.
 Effects of fines on compaction characteristics of poorly graded sands  301

where W is weight of soil mass and m is water content in %.

Putting the value of Eqs. (7) and (8) in Eq. (6), one can
get
W
(1 + m)
G= (9)
(1 – x)W xW
+
(1 + m)G (1 + m)Gfines

1
G= (10)
1–x x
+
Gsand Gfines

Gsand × Gfines
G= (11)
Gfines + x(Gsand – Gfines)
Figure 2.  Soil as three phase system
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Thus, using the Eq. (11), the specific gravity of the mix
Eq. 1 can be written as: can be found out if specific gravity values of sands and fines
Ws are measured. The dry unit weight of the mixed soil can be
G= γ V (2) calculated as:
w s

Gγw
where Ws is weight of soil solids and Vs is volume of soil γd = (12)
mG
solids (as shown in Figure 2). Thus, Eq.2 can be written as: 1+
S
Ws
G = γ (V +V ) (3) where S = degree of saturation
w sand fines
In Eq. (12), putting S = 1 and the value of G obtained
where Vsand and Vfines are the dry volume of sand and fines from Eq. (11), the theoretical maximum dry unit weight at
respectively. any particular water content can be determined. When these
Now values are plotted against water content, the resulting graph
Ws gives Zero Air Void line for the mixed soil at different per-

[ ]
G= Wsand Wfines (5) centage of fines. However, the specific gravity of the mixed
γw + soil can be determined by laboratory test, but with the help
(Gsand * γw) (Gfines * γw)
of Eq. (11), the specific gravity of the mixed soil can be deter-
mined for any percentage of fines if the specific gravity of the
Ws sand and fines are known.
G= (6)
Wsand Wfines
+
Gsand Gfines
4. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
where Wsand and Wfines are the weight of the sand and fines,
respectively. γsand and γfines are unit weight of the sand and Compaction tests were done on prepared sand samples (A
fines, respectively. Gsand and Gfines are the specific gravity of and B) having 0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40% and 50% plastic and
the sand and fines, respectively. non plastic fines by weight. The compaction curves along
Let x is the percentage of fines added. The weight of the with zero air void lines in between dry unit weight and water
sand and fines in the mixture can be written as: content have been drawn for two types of sands with vari-
(1 – x)W ous percentages of fines (Figures 3-6). From the compaction
Wsand = (1 + m) (7) curves the maximum dry unit weight and optimum moisture
content (OMC) have been calculated for various test condi-
tions. It has been also observed from the figures that not
xW
Wfines = (1 + m) (8) much variation is coming for zero air void lines for sands
with various percentages of fines content. This shows similar
 302  International Journal of Geotechnical Engineering

22 21
0% Zero air void line for 0% fines
10% 0% Zero air void line for 50% fines
20
21 15% 10%
Dry unit weight (kN/m )

Dry unit weight (kN/m )

3

3
20%
19 20%
20 30%
30%
40%
18
50% 35%
19
40%
17
50%
18 Zero air void line for 0% fines
16

Zero air void line for 50% fines

17 15
0 5 10 15 20 0 5 10 15 20 25
Water content (%) Water content (%)
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Figure 3.  Compaction curves for sand A with various percentages of Figure 5.  Compaction curves for sand B with various percentages of
plastic fines plastic fines.

21 19
Zero air void line for 50% fines
0% Zero air void line for 0% fines
10% Zero air void line for 0% fines
Zero air void line for 50% fines
15%
Dry unit weight (kN/m )
3

20 18 0%
20%
Dry unit weight (kN/m )
3

30% 10%
40%
20%
19 50%
17
30%

35%

18 40%
16
50%

17 15
0 5 10 15 20 25 0 5 10 15 20 25
Water content (%) Water content (%)

Figure 4.  Compaction curves for sand A with various percentages of Figure 6.  Compaction curves for sand B with various percentages of
non plastic fines non plastic fines.

behavior observed by Kim et al. (2004). Although the varia-
tion of the zero air void lines depends on the specific gravity
values of the sand and fines. If the difference between the
specific gravity values of the sand and fines is more the varia-
tion is more, whereas if the difference is less the variation is
also less.
The variation of Maximum dry unit weight with percent-
age of fines for soil A has been shown in Figure 7. The peak
value of maximum dry unit weight has been attained around
15% fines content in case of both plastic and non plastic
fines. Beyond 15%, it tends to decrease. The maximum dry
unit weight value has been increased by about 11.18% and
5.2% due to addition of 15% plastic and non plastic fines,
respectively.
Figure 8 shows the variation of maximum dry unit
weight with percentage fines for soil B. Here the peak value
has been achieved for both plastic and non plastic fines
around 30% fines content. Beyond this point the addition
 Effects of fines on compaction characteristics of poorly graded sands  303

30
23

Optimum moisture content (%)

Maximu dry unit weight (kN/m )
3

21
20
Sand A + Plastic fines

Sand A + Non plastic fines

19

10
17 Sand A + Plastic fines
Sand A + Non plastic fines

15 0
0 10 20 30 40 50 0 10 20 30 40 50
% Fines % Fines
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Figure 7.  Variation of maximum dry unit weight with percentage of Figure 9.  Variation OMC with percentage of fines for soil A.
fines for sand A.

30
22

20
Maximum dry unit weight (kN/m )
3

Optimum moisture content (%)

Sand B + Plastic fines

18 20
Sand B + Non plastic fines

16

14 10
Sand B + Plastic fines
Sand B + Non plastic fines
12

10 0
0 10 20 30 40 50 0 10 20 30 40 50
% Fines % Fines

Figure 8.  Variation of maximum dry unit weight with percentage of Figure 10.  Variation of OMC with percentage of fines for soil B.
fines for sand B.

of fines causes reduction in maximum dry unit weight value
and finally it attains a constant value. The addition of 30%
plastic and non plastic fines increases the value of maximum
dry unit weight by 25.1% and 10.3%, respectively.
In the case of soil A, the maximum dry unit weight is
achieved when 15% of fines are added. The trend is similar
for both plastic and non plastic fines as shown in Figure 7,
while in the case of soil B, the maximum dry unit weight is
achieved when 30% of fines are added for both plastic and
non plastic fines. Soil A and B are having a uniformity coef-
ficient (Cu) of 4.7 and 1.45 respectively. The percentage of
fines required to attain peak maximum dry unit weight is
varying from 15% to 30%. Thus, considering linear varia-
tion it can be said that for Cu value ranging from 6 to 1, the
percentage fines required can approximately vary from 9%
to 32%. However, more studies are required to get a proper
correlation.
 304  International Journal of Geotechnical Engineering
Figure 9 shows the variation of optimum moisture con-
tent (OMC) with percentage of fines for soil A. The range of
OMC values is coming between 8 to 12%. The OMC value
decreases with increase in percentage of fines up to the
point where the peak value of maximum dry unit weight is
achieved. Beyond that OMC value increases as percentage
of fines increases. Figure 10 shows the variation of OMC
with percentage fines for soil B. It can be observed that the
OMC value shows a reduction as the percentage of fines is
increased. For plastic fines the value of OMC for the same
percentage of fines is found to be less.
5. CONCLUSIONS
From the above discussions the following conclusions can
be made:
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1. The addition of fines to poorly graded sands
increases its maximum dry unit weight. The maxi-
mum dry unit weight increases up to a peak value
and then decreases with further addition of fines.
Plastic and non plastic fines shows similar trend in
the variation of maximum dry unit weight when
added to poorly graded sands. Both plastic and
non plastic fines achieve the peak maximum dry
unit weight around the same percentage addition.
It is 15% in the case of sand with higher Cu value
(Cu = 4.7) and 30% in the case of sand with lower
Cu value (Cu = 1.45).
2. Plastic fines give higher percentage of increase in
maximum dry unit weight as compared to non
plastic fines. For both the samples selected for the
study, the percentage increase in maximum dry
unit weight for plastic fines was more than twice
that of non plastic fines.
3. The amount of fines required to achieve the peak
value of maximum dry unit weight depends upon
the gradation of the sand to be compacted. In case
of sand having a uniformity coefficient (Cu) near
to 1, the percentage fines required will be more
and if it is near to 6, the percentage required will
be less. As Cu varies from 1 to 6, the percentage of
fines required to achieve peak maximum dry unit
weight is varying from about 32% to 9%. Although
more studies are required to get the proper conclu-
sion.
4. The OMC values decreases as the percentage of
fines added is increased up to the point where peak
value of maximum dry unit weight is achieved.
REFERENCES
1. Bloomfield, E.M., and Ware, C.I. (2004). “Fines content
for optimum stability within coastal dune sands within
Northern Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa.” Bulletin of
Engineering Geology and the Environment, 63(4), 303-
308.
2. Chen, J., and Lin, C. (2002). “Effects of the fines content
in soil on stress attenuation during dynamic compac-
tion.” Proceedings of the twelfth International offshore
and polar engineering conference, vol. 2, 616-621.
3. Derakhshandi, M., and Rathje, E. M. (2008). “The
effect of plastic fines on the pore pressure generation
characteristics of saturated sands.” Soil Dynamics and
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4. Gunaydin, O. (2008) “Estimation of soil compaction
parameters by using statistical analyses and artificial
neural networks.” Environmental Geology, Article in
press.
5. IS: 2720 (Part VII)-1980. Methods of Test for Soil:
Determination of Water Content-Dry Density Relation
Using Light Compaction. Bureau of Indian Standard,
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