Soil Compaction

Soil compaction is the practice of applying mechanical compactive effort to densify a soil by
reducing the void space between soil particles. Compaction occurs when particles are pressed
together to reduce the space between them. Highly compacted soils contain very few spaces
resulting in soil with higher unit weight. Maximum density is achieved at an optimum
moisture content, or OMC, for short.

The process of compaction decreases the likelihood of settlement after a building, roadway,
runway or parking lot is constructed. Settlement could result in premature pavement failure,
costly maintenance or repairs.

Why soil compaction necessary?

Soil compaction is necessary to increase the bearing capacity and stiffness of in-situ (natural
state) or chemically modified soils. Compaction increases the shear strength of soils by
adding friction from the interlocking of particles. Future settlement of soils is reduced by
increasing the stiffness and eliminating voids creating a densified soil. The removal of voids
reduces the chance of the soil settling or shrinking or expanding and it decreases water
seepage that would lead to deleterious shrinking and swelling soil properties. Shrink / swell
properties compromise the pavement structure thereby leading to premature failure of the
pavement structure.

Methods of compaction of soil in field

 Smooth wheeled roller

 Sheep foot roller
 Vibratory roller
 Impact rammers

Smooth wheeled roller

A smooth-wheel roller generally consists of three wheels. There are two large wheels in the
rare part and one small in the front. The weight of smooth wheel roller varies from 2 to 15
tons. The roller is operated by internal combustion engine. There is another version of smooth
wheel roller known as tendem smooth wheel roller. It consists of only two drums: one at front
part and another at rear part. Smooth wheeled rollers mostly suited to seal the surface of the
fill at the end of day’s work to provide a smooth surface to quickly drain the rain water.They
are not suitable for deep layers of soil such as uniform sands and silty sands because the

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resulting compaction pressures induced are low. In addition these rollers cause stratification
in deep layers due to none-uniform compaction. They are usedto compact well-graded 
coarse grained soilsfor use in  highway base courses and non – plastic fine-grained soils.  

Sheep foot roller

Sheep foot rollers are named from sheep because, in ancient times, a flock of sheep were used
to compact a newly formed fill. The roller is similar to the smooth wheel roller except that it
contains numerous projecting feet about 200 mm to 250 mm long with an end area of 40 to 
65 cm2.  The wheels of the roller consist of hollow drums and can be filled with water and
ballasts to increase their weight.  The drums are mounted on a steel frame. Sheep foot rollers
are available both as a self-propelled unit or a towed unit.  The projections of the roller
penetrate the soil layers during rolling and cause compaction.  During rolling the weight of
roller is transmitted to fill through projecting feet. The pressure imposed range from 7 to 42
kg/cm2. These rollers are suitable for both plastic and nonplastic fine-grained soils and for
coarse-grained soils with more than 20% fines.  When the roller is used for the first time,  the
projection penetrates the soil layer below and the lower portion is compacted. In successive
passes compaction is achieved at the middle and top portion of the soil layer. The depth of the
layer being compacted depends on the length of projection and weight of the roller. 
Depending upon the  size of the  roller  the  layer thickness varies from 15  cm to 30  cm. In
general, the thickness of the  layer  compacted should  not be 5 cm more than the length of
the projection. 

Vibratory rollers
In vibratory rollers a vibrator mounted on a drum. These rollers are available both in the form
of pneumatic tired type of smooth wheel type.  In smooth wheel type, a  separate motor
drives an arrangement of eccentric weights to create high frequency, low amplitude and up
and down oscillations of the drum. The roller are suitable for compacting granular soils with
no fines where layers up to 1 m in thickness can be contacted. If the soil contains appreciable
fines, the layer thickness is to be reduced. In the pneumatic type of vibratory compactor, a

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separate vibrating unit is attached to the wheel axle .The ballast box suspended separately
from the axle so that it does not vibrate. These compactors are suitable for compacting
granular soils with thickness of layer about 30 cm. Vibractory compactors can compact
the granular soil to a very high maximum dry density.

Impact rammers
Impact rammers consist of a block of iron about 3 to 5 kg wooden rod. The rammer is lifted 
by about 30  cm and dropped on the soil to be compacted.   A mechanical rammer is operated
by compressed air gasoline power.  It is much heavier and weighs 30 to 150 kg. Mechanical
rammers have been used up to a weight of 1000  kg.  Power controlled or manually operated
impact rammers are used where the area to be compacted are small, the area is inaccessible
and use of large equipment is not justified. They are also used for compacting backfill behind
retaining walls or small trenches.  They can be used for all types of soils.

Factors affecting field compaction

Contact pressure
The main  aim  of compaction  is to make a soil capable of resisting
higher contact pressure imposed on it. The contact pressure depends up n the load per unit
width of compacting equipment and its diameter.

Number of passes
The number of passes made increases the compactin of a fill. Beyond a certain limit,  the dry
density does not increase with an increase in numbers of passes.  For economic
considerations, the number of passes is restricted to 5 to l 5.

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 Layer thicknes
The compaction of soil is inversely proportional to layer thickness. For economic
consideration, the layer thickness cannot be less than 15 cm.

Uses
Soil compaction is used to densify a soil by reducing the void space, or the amount of air,
between soil particles. In other words, soil compaction occurs when soil particles are pressed
together to reduce the space between them. Compaction of soil increases the shear strength
and load bearing capacity of the soil. Compaction reduces the voids ratio making it more
difficult for water to flow through (water seepage) soil.

The principal reason for compacting soil is to reduce subsequent settlement under working
loads. Other purposes of soil compaction are:

 Compaction of soil increases the shear strength and load bearing capacity of the soil.
 Compaction reduces the voids ratio making it more difficult for water to flow through
(water seepage) soil. This is important if the soil is being used to retain water such as
would be required for an earth dam.
 Compaction can prevent the build up of large water pressures that cause soil to liquefy
during earthquakes. Reduction in soil swelling (expansion) and collapse (soil
contraction).
 Increased soil stability and slope stability in embankments.
 Reduction in frost damage.

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