JOURNAL OF

THE INSTITUTION OF
CIVIL ENGINEERS
NO. 8, OCTOBER 1950 : SUPPLEMENT

CORRESPONDENCE
ON PAPERSPUBLISHED I N
DECEMBER 1949 JOURNAL

Paper No. 5724

" Compaction of Soils " t

by
FREDERICK
HARRYPASTON M.A., Stud. I.C.E.
WILLIAMS,

Correspondence
Dr B. H.Knight observed that the statement in the synopsis of the
Paper that : " soils range in dry density from about 140 lb. per cubic foot
for coarse-grained gravels . . . " was doubtless correct for thevast
majority of British soils, the constituents of which possessed an average
specific gravity of about 2.65, but it did not apply in the case of soils the
constituents of which might possess a specific gravity higher than 2.65.
Thus, in examining certain decomposed dolerite gravel soils used in thecon-
struction of the main road from the Orange Free State toMaseru, Basuto-
land, Dr Knight had recorded dry densities of 152 lb. per cubic foot in situ,
and of 155 lb. per cubic foot in the laboratory. That was no doubt due to
the higher specific gravity of the constituents of the soil (2.95-2.98) which
was of a type probably not found in Britain excepting in certain of the
Hebridean Islands, such as Mull.
Mr Robert Saunders observed that the Paper was an extremely useful
summary of present knowledge and procedure. Unfortunately the loca-
tion of the Road Research Laboratory made it inevitable that soils for
which data were accumulated were essentially those of Southern England.
It would be interesting to know whether laboratories in the north could
supply data for other soiIs, and also whether information was available
t J. Instn Civ. Engrs, vol. 33 (1949-50), p. 73 (Dec. 1949).
333
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 334 CORRESPONDENCE
COMPACTION
ON OF SOILS

about burnt shale. That material, from colliery tips and other tips, was
very popular as filling material. There appeared to be two types : the
incompletely burnt, which was grey and would still burn ; and the com-
pletely burnt, which was mainly red. In general, a dry density of between
105 and 110 lb. per cubic foot was obtainable with standard compaction of
the red material, at anoptimum moisture content of 15-20 per cent. The
natural moisture content was often considerably less than that figure.
Had the Author any information about suitable plant for compaction,
and the possibility of regression in that material when finely crushed ?
Mr W. R. Greathead observed that errors had occurred in Figs 7, 8,
9, 10, 11, and 16 of the Paper ; in each case the left-hand broken line
should be designated “ 10 per cent. air voids,” and the right-hand broken
line “ 5 per cent. airvoids.”
Papers of this type were particularly valuable a t present, since know-
ledge of the best types of compaction equipment to use with different kinds
of soilswas not yet widely distributed. It was, however, being widely
appreciated that thecompaction of soil substantially increased its strength.
As an example of the increase to be expected, Mr Greathead had found on
works done under his control that, with a lateritic soil very similar in
grading and soil constants to the Author’s “ sandy clay,’’ an increase from
an average A.A.S.H.O. density of 117.18 lb. per cubic foot to an average
“ modified A.A.S.H.O.” density of 123-52 lb. per cubic foot increased the
average California bearing ratio by25, from 22 to 47 (average of twenty-five
samples).
On p. 79, under the heading “ Variation of Density of Compacted Soil,”
the Author gave three reasons for minor variations from place to place.
There was another and most important factor, of which no mention was
made in the Paper, namely, the hardness and density of the layer below
the layer being compacted.
In the construction of runway foundations with the soil previously
referred to it was found, owing to the softness of the underlying material
which absorbed much of the energy of compaction, that, starting on the
original ground, compaction of the first two or three layers to the density
aimed a t (95 per cent., modified A.A.S.H.O.) was impossible, no matter
how many passes were made. The density of each layer was, however,
a little better than that of the layer below and, by building up, thedesired
results were obtained. For the work referred to above, taper-foot sheeps-
foot rollers were used.
The Author did not comment on, or give any information on, the
increase in density in lower layers resulting from the compaction of the
top layer, but that was important in runway-foundation constructionand,
presumably, in earth dams.
Mr Greathead had found that, using heavy (10-ton) taper-foot sheeps-
foot rollers with teeth 6 square inches in area at the bottom and a maximum
pressure of 500 lb. per square inch, compaction down to 18 inches was

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 CORRESPONDENCE ON COMPACTION OF SOILS 335
noticeable, and also that, in the soil previously referred to, there was an
increase of 2+ lb. per cubic foot a t a depth of 7-13 inches during the com-
paction of the top 6 inches. Again, in a sand rather finer and not so well
graded as the Author’s sand, Mr Greathead had found that, with seven
passes of an eleven-wheel pneumatic-tired roller, the average of 1,442 tests
showed an increase of 3-3 lb. per cubic foot in the layer 7-13 inches below
the surface during the compaction of the top 6 inches.
Obviously, therefore, if the Author’s experiments had been carried out
by consolidating a single strip using one type of roller, and then loosening
up and re-compacting with a different type of equipment for purposes of
comparison, the types used at theend of the experiment had been unduly
favoured.
Mr Greathead was sceptical of the statement,on p. 93, that thevariation
of dry density through a layerof soil compacted by a sheepsfoot roller was
normally of the same order as when the soil was compacted by a smooth-
wheel roller, and felt that the results obtained must havebeen due to some
fault in technique. For satisfactory compaction with sheepsfoot rollers,
it was essential that the material should be absolutely loose throughout
when compaction started ; the crust created by construction equipment,
or even by grading with a motor grader, was sufficient to interfere with
efficient compaction.
On p. 79, again under the heading “ Variation of Density of Compacted
Soil,” the Author gave some figures that were important in the control of
compaction, particularly if it was being done by contract. The term
“ probability of nine chances in ten ” was not understood, but, if the

Author meant that the standard deviation of ten results should not exceed
5 lb. for fine-grained soils and 10 lb. for coarse-grained soils, Mr Greathead
agreed that the limits selected were suitable. It was noticeable that, for
fine-grained soils, particularly sands, more consistent field densities were
obtainable than could be obtained with coarse-grained soils.
In conclusion, Mr Greathead felt that the information in Pigs 12, 13,
14, and 15, correlated with that given in Fig. 6 and in Table 1, was of real
value, and hoped that the Author would subsequently take the matter
much farther.
Mr P. G. Hope observed that the Author was to be congratulated on a
Paper which dealt so fully with the subject and had produced concrete
conclusions of great practical value to the engineer who had to deal with
problems of compaction.
Concerning the test described by the Author on p. 98, in which a much
greater degree of compaction was obtained with a 10-ton smooth-wheel
roller when the material had been spread by a D.6 angle-dozer (as opposed
to hand spreading), it was apparent from the curves in Fig. 17 that no
amount of rolling with the roller on hand-spread material would produce
as high a density as, say, twopasses of the roller on material spread by the
angle-dozer. Was it the Author’s opinion that that state of affairs would

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 336 CORRESPONDENCE ON COMPACTION OF SOILS

apply to materials other than the chalk used in that test-for example, a
gravel-sand-clay ?
Since the vertical pressure exerted on the material by a D.6 angle-
dozer would be of the order of 0.2 ton per square foot, which was small
compared with that exerted by a 10-ton roller, the vibration of the engine,
or the fact that the pressure of the tracks was partly horizontal, would
be a very important contributory factor in thecompaction.
Had any experiments been conducted, to the Author’s knowledge, on
smooth-wheel rollers incorporating vibratory mechanisms? Similarly, was
it the Author’s opinion that a self-propelled smooth-wheel roller would,
owing to the vibration of its engine, give better results than one of the
same size and weight which was towed ?
Reasoning along the same lines, would not the effect of a D.6 tractor
towing a roller upset the results of the Author’s tests, particularly in the
vicinity of the tracksof the D.6 ?
Did the Author consider that there was any practical advantage to be
gained in rolling an area, say 200 feet square, in alternate directions a t
right-angles, rather than rolling always in one direction ?
Binally, Mr Hope would appreciate the Author’s opinion on the
practical effect of including in a compacted fill a small percentage of
veget,ablematter, such as theroots and stalksof bushes and grasses, which,
unless special and expensive precautions were taken, were usually included
in material used for fill.
Mr Archibald Leitch observed that compaction of a gravel-sand-clay
airfield a t Leigh Creek coalfield, South Australia, had been controlled in a
manner similar to that outlined in the Paper.
Gravel up to 2-inch maximum size from the creek bed was spread in
3-inch layers on a subsoil of heavy reddish boulder clay. The gravel
pavement would finally be sealed with bitumen.
The A.A.S.H.O. modified Proctor density test (using a 10-lb. rammer
dropping through l8 inches) gave a maximum dry density of 136 lb. per
cubic foot at the optimum moisture content of 7 per cent. for the gravel,
and 123 lb. per cubic foot at theoptimum moisture content of 12 per cent.
for the subgrade.
Samples had been taken by the sand-replacement method in every
2,000 square yards, and were required to show relative compactions of
95 and 85 per cent. respectively for the gravel pavement and for a 6-inch
depth of subgrade underlying the pavement. The moisture content of
the samples had frequently been of the order of 2 per cent.
The plant had consisted of two %ton smooth-wheel rollers, two club-
foot sheepsfoot rollers, and two12-tonpneumatic-tired rollers. A D.7
dozer had been used to spread the gravel and totow the sheepsfoot rollers,
the remainder of the plant being pulled by wheeled tractors. Spraying
with water had been necessary during compaction, and, owing to evapora-

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 CORRESPONDENCE ON COMPACTION OF SOILS 337
tion in the prevailing hot arid conditions, the moisture content during
rolling had usually been kept in excess of the optimum.
Under those conditions the pneumatic-tired rollers had given the best
results. They would be preceded by the sheepsfoot rollers, the point loads
on the feet of which effectively broke up and crushed any irregularly
shaped stones occurring in the gravel. The smooth-wheel rollers had been
used to finish off the surface after final re-grading. It would be interesting
to know what connexion existed, if any, between the type andperformance
of rollers, and size and shape of stone in a gravel surfacing material.
Mr A. A. Osborne observed that the Paperwas a valuable contribution
to constructive soil mechanics for embankments, since reliable data for
compaction specifications, which would make such expressions as “settle-
ment,” “ shrinkage,” and “ bulking ” obsolete, were long overdue.
He was interested in reports of comparative figures obtained under
normal contract conditions, since the results obtained by the Author in
research compaction tests in the field might involve higher contracting
costs for earthwork untilthestandard of compaction was universally
established.
Mr Osborne had been responsible for the supervision of the construc-
tion by contract of a sand embankment of 25,000 cubic yards up to 14
feet deep, for a County Council road diversion in Staffordshire, in which
strict control of compaction by frequent measurements of dry densities
by the core-cutter method a t varying depths gave compaction results for
a fine sand similar to those obtained by theAuthor. All types of compact-
ing equipment were tried ; the first three items of plant listed in Figs 7-11
were eventually selected and gave dry densities of106-113 lb. per cubic
foot, 110-117 lb. per cubic foot, and 103-109 lb. per cubic foot respectively.
Compaction by the tires of the 11-cubic-yard scraper gave a value of
96 lb. per cubic foot, a result which would have been considered satis-
factory for pre-war specifications. Excavation and placing by a scraper
enabled the original moisture content to bemaintainedwithout much
special watering, since earthwork operations took place between October
and April. Did the field compaction tests undertaken bythe Author
involve much variation from the normal contents for the various soils in
the undisturbed state, such as that which occurred in routine earthwork
operations ?
Mr Osborne advocated the use of pneumatic-tired rollers for the com-
paction of sands in wet weather,but agreed with the relative performance
of the various types of plant asfound by the Author.
On the site mentioned above, the need for checking the uniformity of
grading and moisture content was emphasized when, on one occasion, a
load of finer silty sand caused a wet and very unstable pocket to develop
in the embankment, which had to be excavated and replaced.
The section of the Paper entitled “ Application of Suggested Pro-
cedure ” was apractical conclusion to a most informative Paper ; to

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 338 CORRESPONDENCE ON COMPACTION OF SOILS

revert to the subject of compaction specifications, percentage figures of

the maximum dry density under the B.S. compaction test to be specified
would serve as a useful guide. Mr Osborne had had the assistance of the
Author and his department in preliminary tests on the sand referred to,
and, from many dry-density tests in the field, considered 90 per cent. to
be a reasonable figure ; it was noted that the lateMr A. H. D. Markwick 1
had given 80 per cent. What was the Author’s opinion on that point ?
The Author, in reply, observed that he was grateful to Dr Knight for
drawing attention to the fact that it was possible for soils to possess a dry
density higher than 150 lb. per cubic foot when the specific gravity of the
mineral particles in the soilwas of the order of 3 ; such high densities
would, however, be rather exceptional.
Whilst it was true, as Mr Saunders had mentioned, that the soils tested
a t the Road Research Laboratory came from southern England,the Author
wished to emphasize that theresults would beapplicable to soils from other
parts of England having similar particle-size distributions and liquid and
plastic limits. Industrial wastes, such asburnt shale, were extremely
variable materials,and theAuthor doubted the value of obtaining informa-
tion about their compaction in the same way as for soils. Each material
would have to be treated on its merits, because of the difficulties of measur-
ing the density of such materials in situ and the fact that the materials
were crushed during compaction either by plant in the field or by the
ramming procedure in the laboratory tests. The Author was surprised to
note the ratherhigh optimum moisture contents (15-20 per cent.) mentioned
by Mr Saunders for the burntcolliery shale, although it might be due to the
material being pulverized during the test. With regard to the regression
of that material, the Author knew of instances of complete disintegration
in thepresence of an excess of water.
The Author apologized for the errors pointed out by Mr Greathead, and
wished to add that, in Fig. 9, the figures 100 and 105 on the dry-density
scale should be interchanged. The Author was unable to agree with Mr
Greathead regarding the increase in strength which compaction gave to
soil, in the sense described by Mr Greathead. The object of compaction
was to remove air from soiI, and thatprocess wasnaturally accompanied by
an increase in strength. In the case quoted by Mr Greathead, however,
the increase in California bearing ratio of lateritic sandy clay from 22 to 27
was due not only to an increase in dry density but also, presumably, to a
decrease in moisture content, data for which had not been quoted by Mr
Greathead. The Author wished to point out, first, that it was not always
possible to obtain in practice the optimum moisture content given by the
modified A.A.S.H.O. test and,secondly, that even if it were obtained there
would probably be a considerable increase in moisture content with a con-

1 “ The Basic Principles of Soil Compaction and their Application.” Instn Civ.
Engrs, Road Paper No. 16 (1945).

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 CORRESPONDENCE
COMPACTION
ON OF SOILS 339
sequent loss in strength. The value of the very high compaction during
construction would therefore be lost. The aim in compaction was thus to
endeavour to eliminate the air voids a t a moisture content that could be
maintained after construction.
The Author agreed with Mr Greathead that the hardness of the under-
lying layer of soil affected the dry density that could, be obtained in the
layer being compacted. On such evidence as the Author had, however,
he was unable to agree, unless the underlying layer varied considerably,
that it was an important factor in producing variations in the density of
compacted soil. With regard to Mr Greathead’s comments about the im-
portance of the compaction of lower layers of soil resulting from the com-
paction of the toplayer, the Author considered that thatindicated that the
lower layers had not been adequately compacted in the first place : the
Author had found that, where each layer had been properly compacted, no
increase in compaction occurred in the lower layers due to the further
compaction of the toplayer. Experiments made especially for the purpose
had shown that compaction conditions in the Author’s investigations had
remained constant throughout the work.
He wished to assure Mr Greathead that the statement on p. 93 that
“ . . . the variation of dry density through a layer of soil compacted by a

sheepsfoot roller was of the same order as that obtained with a smooth-
wheel roller . . .” had been made only after very careful experiments in
which the points raised by Mr Greathead hadbeen taken fully into account.
The loose tilth on which the compaction tests were made had been prepared
with an hand-operated rotary tiller, and the compaction plant had been
hauled by a lorry whose wheels ran on concrete walls outside the testarea.
There had thusbeen no possibility of a hard skin over the soil which would
adversely influence the performance of the sheepsfoot roller.
The expression “ probability of nine chances in ten ” was a statistical
term which meant that, on average, the mean values of dry density would
lie within the statedlimits innine cases out of ten. For further information
aboutthematter,the Author referred Mr Greathead to the A.S.T.M.
manual 1.
In reply to Mr Hope, the Author felt that it was, to a great extent, the
vertical cleats of the tracks of the angle-dozer that produced the initial
compaction of the chalk. The pressure under those cleats was considerable
and caused the chalk lumps to break down into smaller pieces. That effect,
coupled with the vibration of the tracks, was thought tohave produced the
initial high density. It was doubtful whether a similar result would be ob-
tained with othersoils such as thegravel-sand-clay mentioned by Mr Hope.
Experiments on the performance of smooth-wheel rollers incorporating
vibrating mechanisms had been carried out by theRoad Research Labora-
tory since the Paper had been written. The results would be published in
A.S.T.M. manual on presentation of data. Amer. Soc. Test. Mater. Phila-
delphia, 1943.

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 340 CORRESPONDENCE ON INVESTIGATION OF TIDAL PHENOMENA

due course, but the Author could state that the investigation had shown
that vibration gave the greatest improvement in compaction over non-
vibrating smooth-wheel rollers on non-cohesive soils such as gravels and
sands. The Author did not think that thevibration of the engine of a self-
propelled smooth-wheel roller was an importantfactor inthe compaction of
soils. It was doubtful whether any practical advantage would be gained
by rolling soils in alternate directions at right-angles. The inclusion of a
small quantity of vegetable matter in a fill would be unlikely to have any
serious effect.
The Author welcomed the contributions of Mr Leitch and Mr Osborne as
examples of the practical application of the principles of compaction. He
did not think that there was any connexion between the type and per-
formance of rollers and the size and shape of stone in the gravel surfacing
material, although it was known that stqnes of a size approaching the
thickness of the compacted layer tended to impede compaction. Moisture
content played an important part in the compaction of that typeof material,
and it was essential to control it within about f 1 per cent. if high densities
were to be obtained. With regard to Mr Osborne’s remarks on the specifi-
cation of compaction requirements, the Author reminded him that, since
the aim in compaction was to remove the air from tjhe soil, the density
to be aimed a t in practice should be the value for zero air voids at the
moisture contents a t which the work was being carried out.

Paper No. 5734

“ Investigation of Tidal Phenomena in the Clyde Estuary, using

a Scale Model ” t
by
THOM,Ph.D., B.Sc., A.M.I.C.E.
STEVENSON
ARCHIBALD

Correspondence
Mr J. H. Gillespie
H. observed that he was particularly interestedin the
Author’s explanation of the phenomenon of the hump which existed on
the tide diagrams for the River Clyde a t about half-tide on the rising tide.
He himself had considered that the hump, which indicated the arrest of
the rise of water-level, was caused by the filling up of the flats in the river
from the Pillar bank, opposite Port Glasgow, to the River Leven. The
~

t J. Instn Civ. Engrs, vol. 33 (1949-50), p. 100 (Dec. 1949).

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