METHODS OF SOIL COMPACTION

What is Compaction of Soil?

Compaction of soil is the pressing of soil particles close to each other by
mechanical methods. Air during compaction of soil is expelled from the void
space in the soil mass and therefore the mass density is increased.

Contents:
1. Introduction to Soil Compaction
2. Standard Proctor Method of Compaction
3. Method of Compaction Used in Field
4. Effect of Compaction on Properties of Soils

1
. Introduction to Soil Compaction:
Rearrangement of soil particles and
packing close together by mechanical
methods is known as compaction. For the
improvement of soil properties, e.g.,
density, water content or gradation,
compaction is necessary in the
construction of embankment, road, sub-
grades, earth dams, etc.
Compaction helps to reduce the
settlement, permeability, seepage, etc.
During compaction, air is expelled from
the void spaces in the soil mass which
increases the density. Compaction
generally increases the shear strength,
bearing capacity and makes the soil more
stable against the structure failure.
(i) Shear strength –
(a) Stability
(b) Bearing capacity
(ii) Reducing compressibility and
permeability
(iii) Decrease in volume changes
(iv) Increase the density
It is a rapid process of reduction of
volume by mechanical means.
Compaction is required for –
(a) Construction of earth dams
(b) Canal embankments
(c) Highways, runways

2. Objective:
To improve the engineering properties –
7. Standard Proctor Method
of Compaction:
Air dried sample passing 4.75 mm sieve
about 5% of water — thoroughly mix.
25 blows each in 3 layers
The top layer should not project more
than 6 mm into the collar.
Modified Method:
Heavy rammer 4.9 kg.
Drop of 450 mm.
5 layers, 25 blows each
For soil upto 37.5 mm size larger mould-
2250 cm3 is used.
5 layers-55 blows each
Compactive Effort:
Standard – 60.45 x 103 kg m/m3
Modified – 275.6 x 103 kg m/m3
It is 4.56 times of standard method
8. Method of Compaction Used in Field:
If the water content of the soil in the
borrow area is less than the required
placement water content, water is
sprinkled over the area.
On the other hand, if it is more than the
desired values, the soil is excavated from
the borrow pit, spread and allowed to
dry.
However, in wet weather, if becomes
rather difficult to decrease the water
content and the work has to be stopped.
Relative Compaction:
For cohesive soils the dry density of the
order of 95% of the max. Dry density of
the standard Proctor test (i.e., 95%
relative compaction of the Standard
Proctor test) can be achieved using a
sheepsfoot roller or a pneumatic-tyred
roller.
However, if the soil is very heavy clay,
only sheepsfoot rollers are effective. For
moderately cohesive soils, the dry density
of the order of 95% of that in the
modified Proctor test can be achieved
using pneumatic tyred roller with an
inflation pressure of 600 kN/m2 or more.
For cohesionless soils, the dry density of
the order of 100% or even more of that in
the modified Proctor test can be obtained
using pneumatic-tyred rollers, vibratory
rollers and other vibratory equipment.
Proctor Needle:
This needle consists of a rod, which works
in a piston against the compression of a
spring. Different sized needle points —
(circular needles or tips of surface area
0.25, 0.5, 1.0, 2.5 and 5.0 sq. cm are
generally available) can be attached to the
needle shank which, in turn, is attached to
a spring loaded plunger. The penetration
force can be read on a loaded gauge fixed
over the handle.
After the soil has been compacted at given
water content during the compaction test
in the lab., the rod with a suitable needle
point is forced into the soil mass by 7.5
cm, @ approximately 1.25 cm/sec.
The maximum force used to penetrate the
needle is read out on the scale. The force
when divided by the needle area will give
the penetration resistance in kg/cm2 or
N/cm2or kN/m2.
The Proctor needle, thus in fact measures
the penetration resistance offered by the
given soil mass. The resistance offered by
the compacted soil to the needle, when
penetrated into it, in turn, measures the
moisture content of that soil mass.
A number of such measurements are
made in the lab during the compaction
test; a calibration curve is obtained
between the penetration (R) and the
moisture content.
The penetrative resistance depends only
on the MC. It is possible to prepare in lab,
a chart between the Penetration
Resistance and MC. Once the penetration
resistance is worked out on the Proctor
needle, the corresponding values of MC
can be easily read out from this
calibration curve. It is found that R
decreases with an increase in moisture
content.
California Bearing Ratio Test:
This test is used for the evaluation of the
supporting power of subgrade soils. This
is a penetration test developed by the
California division of highways by O.J.
Porter and a design methodology was
evolved from survey of pavement
conditions carried out in California in
1929. The basis of design of flexible
pavements in India is the CBR method.
This test has been standardized by the
Bureau of Indian Standard.
The CBR apparatus consists of a mould
of 150 mm diameter with a base plate and
a collar, a loading frame with a
cylindrical plunger of 50 mm diameter,
and dial gauges to measure axial
deformation or penetration of the soil
specimen as shown in Fig. 10.10.
The rate of penetration is maintained at
1.25 mm per minute. The load values to
cause 2.5 mm and 5.0 mm penetration are
recorded or obtained from a plot of
penetrations versus load as shown in Fig.
10.11.
Load values are recorded at penetration
values of 0.5 mm intervals by means of a
calibrated proving ring. Two typical
curves are shown: the first in which the
curve is convex up throughout and the
second in which the initial portion is
concave up; the corrected origin is the
second case which is obtained by drawing
a tangent from the steepest portion of the
curve as shown.
The load values with respect to the origin
(or the corrected origin, as the case may
be) corresponding to 2.5 mm and 5.0 mm
are noted from the curve. The initial
concavity may be obtained due to
irregular contact between the plunger
and the soil or due to a soft patch at the
top, requiring a little pressure for proper
seating.
These load values are compared with
those for standard crushed stone material
at the corresponding penetration values
from a calibration test or a readymade
chart. The ratios expressed as percentage
are called the CBR values.
Normally, the value at 2.5 mm
penetration is higher than that at 5.0 mm
penetration and is reported as the CBR
value; if, however, that at 5.0 mm
penetration is higher, the values are
checked by repeating the test, and the
higher value is specified as the CBR
value.
The average of at least three tests on the
material, corrected to the first decimal
place, is reported as the CBR value. The
material passing through a 20 mm sieve
alone is only used for achieving
reproducibility. Invariably, the specimen
is soaked for at least 24 hours to test in
the worst condition.
The appeal of the CBR test lies in the
following advantages:
(i) Its widespread recognition all over the
world is because of its simplicity.
(ii) The procedures for design of
pavements based on CBR are very easy.
(iii) It can be performed both in the
laboratory and in the field.
(iv) It can be used for designing a new
pavement as well as an overlay.
(v) It can be used for analysis of existing
pavements, layer by layer, in respect of
their strength and load-carrying capacity.
(vi) It helps in identifying the causes of
failure of road pavements and for
devising measures to rectify these defects.
9. Effect of Compaction on Properties of
Soils:
The dry of optimum means when the
water content is less than the optimum
and the wet of optimum means when the
water content is more than the optimum.
(i) Soil Structure:
Soil compacted at a water content less
than the optimum water content generally
has a flocculated structure, regardless of
the method of compaction.
Soil compaction → more than OMC,
usually has a dispersed structure.
If the compaction efforts are increased,
there is a corresponding increase in
orientation and higher densities.
(ii) Permeability:
There is corresponding reduction in the
size of voids which cause a decrease in
permeability.
OMC — Minimum permeability
After — Permeability slightly increases
If the compactive effort is increased the
permeability decreases due to increased
dry density and better orientation of
particles.
The minimum permeability occurs at or
slightly above the optimum water content.
After that stage, the permeability slightly
increases.
(iii) Swelling:
Soil samples compacted dry of optimum
and therefore having essentially
flocculated structures shrink appreciably
less than those of equal densities
compacted wet of optimum.
Dry side compacted samples exert greater
swelling characteristics and swell to
higher water content than samples of the
same density obtained from wet side
compaction, if both are initially saturated
and have the same void ratio.
Methods of Compaction of Soil used
in Field
Several methods are used in the field for
compaction of soils. The choice of method
will depend upon the soil type, the
maximum dry density required and
economic consideration. The commonly
used methods are

1. Tampers

2. Rollers

3. Vibratory compactors

The compaction depends upon the

following factors:
 Contact pressure
 Number of passes
 Layer thickness
Because soils at wet side are dispersely  Speed of roller
Types of rollers
oriented.
 Smooth Wheel rollers
Whereas on dry side, extra pressure is  Pneumatic tyred rollers
required to cause particle orientation  Sheepsfoot rollers
from a flocculated structure.
(iv) Pore Pressure:
A sample compacted dry of the optimum
has low water content. The pore water
pressure developed for the soil compacted
dry of the optimum is therefore less than
that for the same soil compacted wet of
the optimum.