CE 240

Soil Mechanics & Foundations

Lecture 4.1

Soil Compaction: Field work

(Das, Ch. 5)
 Outline of this Lecture

1. Factors controlling degree of compaction

2. Compaction field work
3. Compaction quality control on site
 Objectives for Compaction
• Increasing the bearing capacity of
foundations;
• Decreasing the undesirable settlement of
structures;
• Control undesirable volume changes;
• Reduction in hydraulic conductivity;
• Increasing the stability of slopes.
There are 4 control factors affecting the extent of
compaction:
1. Compaction effort;
2. soil type and gradation;
3. moisture content; and
4. dry unit weight (dry density).
Compaction with the
engineering sense:
Compaction is for
making the optimum
density as close as
the zero-air-void as
possible.
More compaction
effort make the
optimum density
closed to ρ(zav) by
the fact of the 2
linear lines have
different slopes.
After passing the
point of optimum
water content,
increasing water
content will not
decrease the
hydraulic
conductivity any
more.
 Compaction Specifications
• Work-Type specification
– contractor what to do and how to do it
– Lowest bid

• Performance based specification

– contractor must achieve a certain degree of
compaction based on lab data.
– Most common
 Field Compaction
• Equipment
– Smooth wheel roller
– Sheepsfoot roller
– Pneumatic tired roller
– Vibratory roller
• Dynamic Compaction
– ramming
 Types of Rollers
1. Smooth Wheel Rollers or Smooth Drum Rollers are suitable for thin layers,
and for finishing operations.
2. Pneumatic Rubber-Tired Rollers have a series of rubber tires side-by-side
instead of a smooth drum. Compaction is achieved by a combination of
weight and kneading action.
3. Sheepsfoot Rollers are drums with a large number of "sheepsfoot"
projections. They are most effective in compacting clayey soils. The initial
pass in the field compacts the lower portion of the lift, with subsequent
passes compacting the middle and upper portions. The roller is said to "walk
out" as the soil is compacted and the feet do not penetrate as deeply as the
initial pass.
4. Vibratory Rollers work well in compacting granular soils. Vibratory action can
be used with smooth drum, rubber tired, or sheepsfoot rollers.
Compaction
Compaction
Inflation pressure-slight tire bulge with
the proper pressure on radial ply tires

18 psi 6 psi

Bulge
Impact of Tire Pressure

18 psi 6 psi
 Top View: Measured soil-tire interface
stress (psi) distribution of an 18.4R38 tire
At Proper Inflation Pressure, Radials
have greater Contact Area
Impact of soil moisture on compaction
(depth and sinkage)

0
4
8
Depth,
12
In.
16

20

24

28
Hard dry soil Normal Wet soil
B. Ramming

Rammers have a low frequency (800

blows/minute), and a higher stroke (1.5" to
3.5“ height). As the machine operates the
ramming action breaks down the soil,
pushes the particles closer together, and
forces air out of the voids.
C. Vibration

Vibratory machines are distinguished by

their high frequency (2,000 to 6,000
blows/minute) and a low amplitude. The
vibratory action sets the soil particles in
motion, which rearranges them into a
denser packing.

(Das, 2006)
Field Compaction
A. Relative Compaction
Relative compaction is a way of comparing
compaction on the construction site with the
laboratory compaction results. It is defined as:
 Specification for Field
Compaction
• Specifications will refer to % Relative
Compaction
• Relative to what?
– Proctor Test – standard or modified
• % Relative Compaction R ~ (90 – 100%)
γ d ( field )
R (% ) = × 100
γ d max (lab )
• If R > 100 % use Modified Proctor Test
A. Water Content – the
experience
In the field it has been found
that soils compact better at
water contents on the dry side
of the optimum water content
determined in the lab.
B. Why?
Lab and field have used
different compaction pressure.
The clayey soil
compacted at
the dry side of
the optimum
water content
will possess
greater
strength.
A number of 10-15 roller passes are the most efficient and economical way to
yield the maximum dry unit weight.
 Specification for Field
Compaction
• 98% means the soil in the field should be
98% of the lab result
• For example, if the peak of the curve is at
100 pcf and 22% moisture
• The field compaction must be at least 98
pcf and within the stated moisture range
(20 ~24%)
 Specification for Field
Compaction (cont.)
• Soil will be compacted to 98% relative
compaction as compared to a standard proctor
test, ASTM D-698
• The soil moisture content will be ± 2% of
optimum.
Measurement of Field Compaction
• Most common methods
are
– Nuclear Method
– Sand Cone method
– Rubber Balloon method
 In-Place Soil Unit Weight Test
• Density of soil in-place by drive cylinder
method
– ASTM D2937 or AASHTO T 204
• Unit weight of soil in-place by the sand-
cone method (Fig. 4-12)
– ASTM D 1556 or AASHTO T 191
In-Place Soil Unit Weight Test (cont.)

• Unit weight of soil in-place by the rubber-

balloon method
– ASTM 2167 or AASHTO T 205
• Unit weight of soil and soil-aggregate in-
place by nuclear methods
– ASTM D 2922
Figure 5.28 (Das, 2006)
Calibrated vessel used with rubber balloon
Nuclear density gauges consist A big disadvantage of this
of a sealed source in a source instrument is the safety
holder and a scintillation detector. precautions that has to be taken
The source holder is mounted on into account. It is even
the end of a pipe or chute with the necessary to have the operators
detector in the instrument console. attend a special training just to
The nuclear source radiation work with the gauge.
transmits from the source through
the material to the detector. As the
density of the material changes the
amount of radiation reaching the
detector changes. The greater the
density of the material, the lower
the radiation field at the detector;
the lower the density of the
material, the higher the radiation
field at the detector.
Non-nuclear density gauge
To avoid the hassle of the existing nuclear method, non-nuclear density
gauge has also been developing and remaining as an active research field
in geotechnical engineering. One of such kind f density meter called
Pavement Quality Indicator (PQI). A measuring plate underneath the gauge
generates an altering electric field through the asphalt. This way it
measures the dielectric properties of the material. This property is tells how
much electrical energy the material can hold. It is obvious that air has a
complete other properties than solid material. Because more dense material
holds less air, it is possible to calculate the density based on the electrical
properties of that material. Because it is 'just' an electrical device anyone is
allowed to work with it. This makes it possible that staff working with the
compactor or near the paving process can measure the compaction during
the day as often as necessary.
Reading assignment:

Ch. 5

Homework:

Problems 5.9, 5.10, 5.11, 5.12