10/22/2020

Lecture 6:
Earthwork and Compaction

SE 181: Geotechnical Engineering

Fall 2020
Prof. John S. McCartney, Ph.D., P.E., F.ASCE

Main Categories of Geotechnical Structures

Fill Type Structures
(main application for compaction)

Cut Type Structures

(deal with natural soil present)

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Benefits Gained from Compaction

Issues with Poor Compaction

Clear compaction
specifications help
avoid problems

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Earthwork: Granular Soils

Earthwork: Cohesive Soils

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Earthwork: Existing Soils

Compaction Curve: Field

Dry unit weight

d

Compaction water
content
wc
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Laboratory Compaction

Compaction Curves in the Laboratory

Dry unit weight

d

Compaction water
content
wc
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Compaction Effects on Soil Structure

Dry unit weight

d

Compaction water
content
wc

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Compaction: Line of Optimums

Dry unit weight

d

Compaction water
content
wc

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Compaction Effects on Engineering Properties

Mitchell, Hooper and Campanella (1965) – measured properties for compacted soils
with different combinations of dry density, compaction water content and energy

Hydraulic Conductivity Trends Shear Strength Trends Shrinkage Trends

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Steps for Compacted Soil Construction

• Identify Borrow Source
– Clays – landfills or dams
– Granular – roads, retaining walls
• Excavation of Borrow Material
– Classify borrow soil
• Pre-processing
– Remove organics
– Crush clods and remove rocks
• Conditioning (Water Content Adjustment)
– Spread out to dry
– Add water and mix
• Stockpiling
– Prevent compaction water content from changing
• Transport and Placement
– Place in lifts – grade markers from survey (6-12” lifts usually)
• Compaction
– Compact and then blade rather than trying to compact to the right level
• Protection
– Prevent shrinkage and drying which will lead to cracks in clays

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Minimizing Secondary Features

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Minimizing Secondary Features

Good interaction
between lifts when full
penetration is
achieved

Lift height for the

compactor

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Design Specifications
• Document written by engineers based on lab tests
• Goal of having compacted soil have a desired set of
properties
• Give the contractor a zone of acceptable conditions
• Contractors will usually choose the lowest
cost/effort
• Typical specification:
• Minimum d
• Range of wc
• Zone depends on the properties desired
• Low hydraulic conductivity (dams, landfills)
• High strength (roads, walls)

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Design Specifications for Hydraulic Conductivity

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Design Specifications for Hydraulic Conductivity

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Design Specifications for other Factors

Dry unit weight

d

Compaction water
content
wc

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Construction Quality Control/Assurance

• CQC: Done by engineers working

for the contractor
• Prove that specifications have
been met so that the contractor
can be paid
• CQA: Done by design engineer or
owner’s representative
• Compliance checks due to
responsibility
• Permit acceptance

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Construction Quality Control/Assurance

• Several ASTM Standards

used for CQC/CQA:
• Frequency of
compaction checks
• Which specific tests to
run when you do a
check
• How many failed tests
are ok?

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CQA Tests: Water Content

• Ideal: Oven drying

• Alternatives
• Speedy moisture test

• Microwave

• Dielectric sensor

• Nuclear gage

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CQA Tests: Density

• Sand cone test

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CQA Tests: Density

• Piston sampler

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CQA Tests: Density

• Rubber Balloon Test

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CQA Tests: Water and Density

• Nuclear density gage

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Big Projects: Test Pad
• Use proposed specifications and field equipment to check
• Do tests on the pad to check its compliance with specifications
• Expensive and does not account for confining effects of
overlying material (for dams or landfills)

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