EFFECT OF COMPACTION AND MOISTURE CONTENT ON THE BOUNCE INDEX OF CRICKET PITCH

Thesis supervisor Dr. Md. Zoynul Abedin

Submitted by Sonia Samir (Student no: 0404030) M. M. A. Kader Chowdhury (Student no: 0404129)

ABSTRACT
The present study was concerned with the effect of compaction and moisture content on the bounce index of cricket pitch. Soil samples were collected from selected international cricket pitches of Bangladesh. The venues were Dhaka, Fatullah, Chittagong, Rajshahi and Bogra. Local clay soil well as some imported soil samples were used in constructing these pitches. The required properties of collected soil samples were determined in the laboratory performing Atterberg limits, organic contents, grain size analysis, compaction and linear shrinkage tests. ASTM and BS test procedures were followed in determining these properties. To determine the effect of moisture content and compaction energy in shear strength of compacted soil, the water percentages were used at or below optimum water content. Different water percentages were used to prepare test samples. The samples were compacted in a specific mold of volume 1/30 cubic feet and 5 lb hammer was used to compact the soil. To determine the effect of height of fall of a ball and moisture content on rebounce height, various water contents were used for making different samples. The compacted soil samples were used to measure the effect of bounce. The analysis of data showed that, moisture content and compaction energy has a proportional relationship with shear strength of compacted soil. On the other hand moisture content has no significant effect on rebounce height. At lower water contents, the effect of height of fall on bounce index is insignificant. However, at higher water content (17%) the bounce index decreases with the increase of height of fall.

Statement of the Problem

It is important to evaluate the soil prior to construction of pitch. To evaluate the soil, some specific criteria are required. The existing parameters may not be applicable to Bangladesh conditions. To set up some useable criteria, laboratory analysis is required. But these criteria are not fixed, with time and experience these will be modified to produce a well developed end product o evaluate soils of cricket pitches.

Objective of the Research

The effect of moisture content on shear strength of compacted soil. The effect of compaction energy in the shear strength of compacted soil.

The effect of initial drop height on rebounce height at a specific moisture content.
The effect of moisture content on rebounce height and bounce index for a particular height of fall of a ball.

Collection of Soil Sample

In Bangladesh, there are six international venues for cricket stadium. Six samples were used and collected from these sites and taken to the laboratory for testing. The sites were from Mirpur pitch, Fatullah pitch, Bogra pitch, Rajshahi pitch, BUET pitch and Chittagong pitch. All of them were clay soil. Mirpur and BUET pitch were made of black clay. Other four pitches were made of red clay soil.

EXPERIMENTAL SETUP TEST PROGRAMME AND PROCEDURES

Physical and classification tests were done on the collected soil samples to classify the soils. Apparatus were developed to measure the shear strength and bounce index. Physical and classification test Grain Size Analysis Specific Gravity Test Atterberg Limit Tests Organic Content tests Linear Shrinkage Tests Compaction Tests

Test scheme

Physical and classification test results

Grain size distribution of soil of Mirpur pitch

Grain size distribution of soil of Fatullah pitch

Grain size distribution of soil of Bogra pitch

Grain size distribution of soil of Rajshahi pitch

Grain size distribution of soil of BUET pitch

Grain size distribution of soil of Chittagong pitch

Linear Shrinkage
This test covers the determination of the linear shrinkage of a disturbed soil sample. Linear shrinkage is the decrease in length of a soil sample when ovendried, starting with a moisture content of the sample at the liquid limit. In the present investigation, BS (British Standard) test procedures were followed . The percentage linear shrinkage (LS) of the specimen was calculated using the following formula Linear Shrinkage, LS = (Lf-Li)/Li x 100% where, Lf = Final length of the sample after drying (mm) Li = Initial length of the sample (mm)

Modified Penetrometer
A conventional pocket penetrometer was used to estimate the approximate shear strength of compacted soil of four of the samples. The available pocket penetrometer had a graduation up to 9000 lb/ft2. For two of the stiffer soil samples (BUET pitch and Mirpur pitch) this limit was not sufficient to measure the strength. A modified penetrometer with a similar plunger diameter of that of conventional one was designed, fabricated and calibrated.

CALIBRATION
For calibration of the penetrometer scale a soil sample was prepared by compaction with a certain energy and water content. The conventional pentrometer plunger was pushed into the soil and shear strength reading was taken. On the same soil sample, the modified penetrometer plunger was also inserted using a dead load of 5 kg. The penetration was measured and that was marked as the strength obtained by the conventional penetrometer. The procedure was repeated on soil samples prepared using at least 5 levels of energy keeping the water content constant. A graph of penetration and shear strength for the modified pentrometer was plotted. A linear relationship was observed. This relationship was used to estimate the strength of the stiffer soil samples.

Determination of Bounce Index

Bounce index is the ratio of rebounce height from the soil sample to rebounce height from concrete surface for a specific height of fall.

Bounce index = rebounce height from soil sample x 100 % rebounce height from concrete

Atterberg Limit Test

To classify the soil samples, Atterberg limit tests (Test Methods: ASTM D 4318, ASTM D 2216) were done. From the test we determined liquid limit, plastic limit, plasticity index and group of the soils. Liquid limit results are taken from flow curve that are shown in figures in the next slides. The plasticity chart was used for classification. The results are shown in Table.

Flow curve for soil sample of Mirpur stadium pitch

Flow curve for soil sample of Fatullah stadium pitch

Flow curve for soil sample of Bogra stadium pitch

Flow curve for soil sample of Rajshahi stadium pitch

Flow curve for soil sample of BUET playground pitch

Flow curve for soil sample of Chittagong stadium pitch

Plasticity chart for Unified Soil Classification System

Plasticity index and soil type

Effect of Linear Shrinkage on Crack Over Pitch(According to South African Cricket Pitch Code,1998)

Effect of Organic Content(South African Cricket Pitch Code,1998)

Moisture density curve of Mirpur stadium cricket pitch soil sample

Moisture density curve of Fatullah stadium cricket pitch soil sample

Moisture density curve of Bogra stadium cricket pitch soil sample

Moisture density curve of Rajshahi stadium cricket pitch soil sample

Moisture density curve of BUET playground cricket pitch soil sample

Moisture density curve of Chittagong cricket pitch soil sample

Optimum moisture content of the soil samples

Effect of Moisture Content in Shear Strength of Compacted Soil

The approximate shear strength (stiffness) of the compacted soil was measured varying water content below optimum for all the soil samples.

The results are plotted in graphs below:

Shear strength vs. moisture content (Rajshahi pitch)

Shear strength vs. moisture content (Mirpur pitch)

Shear strength vs. moisture content (Fatullah pitch)

Shear strength vs. moisture content (Bogra pitch)

Shear strength vs. moisture content (BUET pitch)

Shear strength vs. moisture content (Chittagong pitch)

Analysis of Data
In insensitivity of shear strength with moisture content may be explained as follows. At moisture content lower than the optimum the soil had still the voids to accommodated water. As such, water could not have the chance to soften the soil mass.

Compaction energy versus shear strength of soil (Mirpur stadium pitch)

Compaction energy versus shear strength of soil (Bogra stadium pitch)

Compaction energy versus shear strength of soil (Fatullah stadium pitch)

Compaction energy versus shear strength of soil (Rajshahi stadium pitch)

Compaction energy versus shear strength of soil (BUET pitch)

Compaction energy versus shear strength of soil (Chittagong stadium pitch)

Analysis of The Graph

The results showed the general tendency of increasing shear strength with the increase in compaction energy up to certain limit then remained constant.

For practical reasons it was not possible to keep the moisture content constant in all the soil samples.

As such, the relationship between strength and energy could not be established.

Rebounce height of ball against height of fall (Bogra; moisture content =10%)

Rebounce height of ball against height of fall (Bogra; moisture content =13%)

Rebounce height of ball against height of fall (Bogra; moisture content =17%)

Height of fall and bounce index (Bogra pitch soil)

Rebounce height against height of fall of Bogra pitch soil

Bounce index against height of fall (Bogra pitch soil; MC=10%)

Bounce index against height of fall (Bogra pitch soil; MC=13%)

Bounce index against height of fall (Bogra pitch soil; MC=17%)

Analysis
Figures show that at lower water contents, the effect of height of fall on bounce index is insignificant. However, at higher water content (17%) the bounce index decreases with the increase of height of fall. This may be explained by the fact that at higher water content the dissipated energy from a higher height would be larger as compared to that at smaller height of fall.

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE STUDIES

The following objective-wise conclusions can be drawn from the study: Effect of Moisture Content in Shear Strength of Compacted Soil: In general, the strength was found to remain almost constant for the ranges of moisture content considered, except the sample from Rajshahi. In case of Rajshahi pitch, with a variation of water content of 5%, the strength was found to decrease in an order of approximately 21%. Effect of Compaction Energy in The Shear Strength of Compacted Soil The shear strength of any compacted fill increases with the increase in compaction energy up to certain limit then remained constant.

 Effect of Initial Drop Height on Rebounce Height

There exists a direct relationship between height of fall of the ball with rebounce height for a particular water content, that is, rebounce height was found to increase with the increase of height of fall. The increase is sharp at lower height of fall up to 100 cm. Effect of Moisture Content on Rebounce Height and Bounce Index There is a positive direct relationship between height of fall and rebounce height irrespective of any water content. At lower water contents, the effect of height of fall on bounce index is insignificant. However, at higher water content (17%) the bounce index decreases with the increase of height of fall.

Recommendations for Future Studies

The tests were conducted using a sample mold. Model cricket pitches can be prepared in the laboratory to carryout research on the aspects considered. The effect of moisture content on shear strength of compacted soil was studied considered for water content below optimum. The study should be extended for water content further to optimum moisture content. The natural soil samples used in the present investigation had varied organic content. A controlled organic content may yield interesting findings.

 For the time constraint, the bounce index was estimated for one pitch only. This study should be carried out for the other pitches as well.

In a practical cricket field, the top layer is covered with grass. In the present study, this aspect was not considered. Further study may be carried out as this may affect bounce and swing of the ball.

Shrinkage may have some impact on bounce index. Cracks usually develop in a pitch because of this shrinkage property. This should be investigated.

 Recent researches are conducted with the use of sophisticated EMI (electromagnetic induction) apparatus. For accuracy of the results sophistication in instrumentation should be considered.

Mineralogy plays an important role on the water adsorption/ absorption capacity and hence the properties of soil. A study may be carried out considering this aspect.

Thanks to all