Qassim University

College of Engineering
Civil Engineering Department

CE 353/480
Geotechnical Engineering

Dr. Sherif M. ElKholy

 THEORY OF
COMPACTION
 THEORY OFCOMPACTION
General:

γd
γd
 THEORY OF COMPACTION

So, What is Soil Compaction?

It is Applying energy (compactive effort) to the soil in order to
produces a More Dense soil structure than previously existed.

• Soil compaction is used in many civil projects such as: Roads,

Runways, Embankments, Dams,….
THEORY OFCOMPACTION
 THEORY OF COMPACTION
Objective of Compaction:
The objective is the Improvement of the Engineering
Properties of the Soil Mass (Soil compaction is the cheapest
method of soil improvement available).

Advantages can be achieved through compaction:

• Reducing and/or Preventing the expected settlement.
• Reducing soil void ratio and thus Increasing soil strength.
• Increasing the stability of side slopes.
• Increasing the bearing capacity of soil for foundations design
and road pavement works.
• Controlling undesirable volume changes (e.g. caused by Frost
Action, Swelling, Shrinkage, Collapsing,….etc.) compaction is
the cheapest method of soil stabilization available.
 THEORY OF COMPACTION
Compaction is a Function of Four Variables,
they are:
1. Dry Density ρd
2. Water Content wc
3. Compactive Effort
4. Soil Type (gradation, presence of clay
minerals, particle shape and sizes,….etc).

• In the Field, Compactive Effort is defined as:

The Number of Passes or “Coverage” of the Roller (of
certain type and weight) on a Given Volume of Soil.
 WHAT WAS IT LIKE BEFORE
COMPACTION TECHNIQUES WERE
DISCOVERED?????
FIELD COMPACTION EQUIPMENT
FIELD SOIL COMPACTION
FIELD SOIL COMPACTION
FIELD SOIL COMPACTION
FIELD SOIL COMPACTION
FIELD SOIL COMPACTION
What about the Laboratory Compaction Tests???
COMPACTION TESTS
TYPES OF COMPACTION TESTS
LAB COMPACTION TEST
THEORY OF COMPACTION
THEORY OF COMPACTION
THEORY OF COMPACTION
THEORY OF COMPACTION
THEORY OF COMPACTION
 THEORY OF COMPACTION
Zero Air Voids (100% Saturation) Curve:
It is a theoretical curve that represents an assumed case of soil
body containing NO VOIDS at all, i.e. the soil sample is 100%
Saturated.
THEORY OF COMPACTION
THEORY OF COMPACTION

γd
γd
THEORY OF COMPACTION
FIELD COMPACTION DETERMINATION

FIELD COMPACTION
METHODS

SAND CONE BALLOON DENSITY NUCLEAR

METHOD METHOD METHOD
FIELD COMPACTION DETERMINATION

NUCLEAR METHOD
FIELD COMPACTION DETERMINATION

BALLOON DENSITY
METHOD
FIELD COMPACTION DETERMINATION

SAND CONE METHOD

FIELD COMPACTION DETERMINATION
FIELD COMPACTION DETERMINATION
FIELD COMPACTION DETERMINATION
FIELD COMPACTION DETERMINATION
FIELD COMPACTION DETERMINATION
FIELD COMPACTION DETERMINATION
FIELD COMPACTION DETERMINATION