PAMANTASAN NG LUNGSOD NG VALENZUELA

CE Department

Compaction of
Soil
– Geotechnical Engineering –
Compaction of Soil – Introduction
• In the construction industry, soil cut-and-fill is a
common occurrence. For the stability of highway
embankments, earth dams, or building backfills,
loose soil must be compacted.
DESCRIPTION:
Compaction is the densification of soil by
removal of air, which requires mechanical
energy.
• In grade surface compaction, smooth-wheel
rollers, rubber-tired rollers, and vibratory
rollers are used.
• In deeper soils, vibroflot devices are used,
known as vibroflotation.
• Reasons to compact field soil:
1. to increase shear strength
2. to decrease future settlements
3. To decrease permeability
4. To increase the stability of sloped soils
Compaction Equipment
• Most of the compaction in the field is done with rollers.
• The four most common types of rollers are:
1. Smooth-wheel rollers (or smooth-drum rollers)
2. Pneumatic rubber-tired rollers
3. Sheepsfoot rollers
4. Vibratory rollers
Compaction Equipment
Smooth-Wheel Rollers
(or smooth-drum rollers)
• Suitable for proof rolling subgrades and for
finishing operation of fills with sandy and
clayey soils.
• Available in single and double drums.
• Provides 100% coverage under the drums
with contact pressures of 300-400 kN/m2
• Not suitable for producing high weights of
compaction when used in thicker layers.
• Vibrators can be attached to the drum.
Compaction Equipment
Pneumatic Rubber-Tired Rollers
• Heavily loaded with several rows of closely
spaced tires of four to six per row.
• Provides 70-80% coverage under the drums
with 600-700 kN/m2 contact pressure.
• Can be used for sandy and clayey soils.
• Vibrators can be attached to the drum.
Compaction Equipment
Sheepsfoot Rollers
• Drum rollers with a large number of
projections.
• The area of each projection may range from
25 to 85 cm2.
• Most effective in highly clayey soils.
• Vibrators can be attached to the drum.
Compaction Equipment
Tamping Rammers
Employs impact force to
compact the ground.

Vibratory Plate Compactor

Utilizes vibrations to settle
the dirt below and fill voids
Compaction Equipment

Walk-Behind Rollers
Similar to smooth wheel
compactors. They’re smaller,
designed for tight access jobs
where ride-on rollers can’t go.
Field Compaction
• The degree of compaction is measured in terms of its dry unit weight.
• Typical construction standards and specifications require soils to be
compacted 90-98% of the maximum dry unit weight determined from
laboratory tests.
• Relative Compaction is expressed as:
𝛾𝑑
𝑅 % = × 100%
𝛾𝑑𝑚𝑎𝑥
• Some specifications are written in terms of the required relative density
Dr or the required relative compaction.
𝑅0 𝛾𝑑𝑚𝑖𝑛
𝑅 % = × 100% , Where: 𝑅0 =
1−𝐷𝑟 1−𝑅0 𝛾𝑑𝑚𝑎𝑥
General Principles
• In the compaction of soils, water is
used as a softening agent and
lubricant on the soil particles.
• Initially, from dry soil state, increase
in moisture content results in
increase in dry unit weight.
• At a certain point, further increase in
moisture content results in decrease
in dry unit weight.
• Maximum dry unit weight occurs at
optimum moisture content (OMC)
𝛾
• 𝛾𝑑𝑚𝑎𝑥 =
1+𝜔𝑂𝑀𝐶
Determination of γdmax: Proctor Test

In the Proctor Test, the soil is compacted in a mold that has a known volume of 944 cm3.
• For a series of trials, the soil is mixed with varying amounts of water.
• The moist soil is compacted in the mold in three equal layers by dropping a hammer in
25 blows per layer.
• The weight of the soil in the mold, and the moisture content are determined in each
trial.
Standard vs Modified Proctor Test
Standard vs Modified Proctor Test
Determination of field γd: Sand Cone Method
To check whether the field compaction achieved
the specifications of the project, standard
procedures for determining the field unit weight
of compaction include:
1. Sand Cone Method
2. Rubber Balloon Method
3. Nuclear Method

In the determination of field dry unit weight, the

general formula is used:
𝑊𝑠
𝛾𝑑 =
𝑉
The weight of the soil solids, Ws is determined
simply by taking an in-situ soil sample.
The volume of the soil sample is determined by
employing any of the three methods above.
Determination of field γd: Sand Cone Method
To check whether the field compaction achieved
the specifications of the project, standard
procedures for determining the field unit weight
of compaction include:
1. Sand Cone Method
2. Rubber Balloon Method
3. Nuclear Method

In the determination of field dry unit weight, the

general formula is used:
𝑊𝑠
𝛾𝑑 =
𝑉
The weight of the soil solids, Ws is determined
simply by taking an in-situ soil sample.
The volume of the soil sample is determined by
employing any of the three methods above.
Determination of field γd: Sand Cone Method
The sand cone device consists of a glass or plastic
jar, with a metal cone attached at its top. The jar is
filled with uniform dry Ottawa sand.

The combined weight of the jar, the cone, and the

sand filling the jar is determined (W1). A small
hole is excavated in the field where the soil has
been compacted. The weight of the moist soil (W2)
and the moisture content (ω) is determined.

The dry weight can be obtained as:

𝑊2
𝑊3 = 𝑊𝑠 =
1+𝜔
After excavation of the hole, the device is
invertedly placed above the hole, where the sand
is allowed to flow out of the jar to fill the hole and
the cone.
Determination of field γd: Sand Cone Method
The combined weight of the jar, the cone, and the
remaining sand is determined (W4).

The weight of sand to fill the hole and cone, W5,

𝑊5 = 𝑊1 − 𝑊4

To determine the volume of the excavated hole,

the following formula is used:
𝑊5 − 𝑊𝑐 𝑊1 − 𝑊4 − 𝑊𝑐
𝑉= =
𝛾𝑑(𝑠𝑎𝑛𝑑) 𝛾𝑑(𝑠𝑎𝑛𝑑)

WC is determined from the calibration done in the

laboratory.
Example Problem:
Laboratory compaction test results of a standard proctor test are given in the following
table:
Volume of mold Weight of moist soil Moisture content
(cm3) in mold (g) (%)
944 1,713.56 10
944 1,818.55 12
944 1,876.66 14
944 1,868.50 16
944 1,818.55 18
944 1,768.60 20

a. Determine the maximum dry unit weight of compaction and the optimum moisture
content.
b. Calculate and plot γd versus the moisture content for saturated condition. Gs = 2.7
Example Problem:
Laboratory compaction test results of a standard proctor test are given in the following
table:
Volume of mold Weight of moist Moisture Moist Unit Dry Unit Weight
(cm3) soil in mold (g) content (%) Weight (kN/m3) (kN/m3)
944 1,713.56 10
944 1,818.55 12
944 1,876.66 14
944 1,868.50 16
944 1,818.55 18
944 1,768.60 20

a. Determine the maximum dry unit weight of compaction and the optimum moisture
content.
b. Calculate and plot γd versus the moisture content for saturated condition. Gs = 2.7
Example Problem:
20

19 Moist Unit Dry Unit Weight

Weight (kN/m3) (kN/m3)
18

17

16

15

14
8 10 12 14 16 18 20