UNIVERSITY OF KHARTOUM

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING
CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

Soil Compaction

Soil Mechanics I
CVE32306

Mohammed Elbushra Elsheikh Elnur

SOIL MECHANICS I
SOIL COMPACTION
CVE32306

Introduction:
• Soil compaction is a ground improvement technique, it involves the
densification of soil by removing air voids using compactive effort.
• Removal of water from soil under effort is called Consolidation which is
different from Compaction.

Compactive
effort

+ water =

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SOIL MECHANICS I
SOIL COMPACTION
CVE32306

Objectives of Compaction:
Compaction is used to enhance desired engineering properties in soil, such as:
1. Increasing unit weight of soil.
(Embankments)
2. Decreasing settlements.
(Foundations & Embankments)
3. Increasing soil strength and bearing capacity.
(Foundations, Roads & Embankments)
4. Decreasing permeability.
(Earth Dams)
5. Increasing stability of slopes.

SOIL MECHANICS I
SOIL COMPACTION
CVE32306

Types of Compaction:
• Compaction can be divided into two types:
1. Field Compaction
2. Laboratory compaction
• Laboratory compaction is a guide and control measure for field compaction.

• Guide measure: The amount of water added in field compaction is

determined through laboratory compaction.

• Control measure: The dry density from field compaction is compared to

maximum dry density from laboratory compaction.

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SOIL MECHANICS I
SOIL COMPACTION
CVE32306

Water – Dry Density Relation:

SOIL MECHANICS I
SOIL COMPACTION
CVE32306

Compaction Curve:
Dry density (d)

- Soil grains densely packed

- good strength and stiffness

- low permeability
d, max

optimum
water content Water content

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SOIL MECHANICS I
SOIL COMPACTION
CVE32306

Laboratory Compaction:
• The objective of laboratory compaction is to determine the maximum
dry density (𝜌𝑑 𝑚𝑎𝑥 ) which could be achieved under a specific
compaction effort and the optimum moisture content (o.m.c) at
which this dry density is obtained.
• There are two main methods for laboratory compaction:
1. Standard Proctor Test
2. Modified Proctor Test

SOIL MECHANICS I
SOIL COMPACTION
CVE32306

Laboratory Compaction (Cont.):

Standard Proctor Modified Proctor

• 3 layers • 5 layers
• 25 blows for layer • 25 blows for layer
• Hammer weight 2.5Kg • Hammer weight 4.5Kg
• Drop height 300mm • Drop height 450mm

Mould dimensions φ=105mm, H=115mm

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SOIL MECHANICS I
SOIL COMPACTION
CVE32306

Compaction Energy:
• Compaction energy (E) is the energy applied per unit volume of soil.

𝑁𝑜.𝑝𝑓 𝐿𝑎𝑦𝑒𝑟𝑠 ×𝑁𝑜.𝑜𝑓 𝑏𝑙𝑜𝑤𝑠 𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑙𝑎𝑦𝑒𝑟 ×𝐻𝑎𝑚𝑚𝑒𝑟 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 ×𝐷𝑟𝑜𝑝 𝐻𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡
𝐸=
𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑀𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑

• In N.m/m3 or Joule/m3

SOIL MECHANICS I
SOIL COMPACTION
CVE32306

Effect of Compaction Energy:

• With the increase of energy
(E) the maximum dry
density (𝜌𝑑 𝑚𝑎𝑥 ) increases,
and the optimum moisture
content (o.m.c) decreases.

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SOIL MECHANICS I
SOIL COMPACTION
CVE32306

Zero Air Void line:

𝑀𝑠 𝐺𝑠 𝜌𝑤
𝜌𝑑 = =
𝑉𝑡 1+𝑒
𝑏𝑢𝑡 𝑆𝑟 𝑒 = 𝐺𝑠 ω

𝑎𝑡 𝑠𝑎𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑆𝑟 = 100%
(𝑖. 𝑒. 𝑍𝑒𝑟𝑜 𝑎𝑖𝑟 𝑣𝑜𝑖𝑑)
𝐺𝑠 𝜌𝑤
𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑧. 𝑎. 𝑣 𝜌𝑑 =
1 + 𝐺𝑠 ω

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SOIL MECHANICS I
SOIL COMPACTION
CVE32306

Soil Type Effect:

• Grain size distribution,
shape of soil grains,
specific gravity of solid
particles, and amount of
clay minerals are all
factors affecting the
compaction.

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SOIL MECHANICS I
SOIL COMPACTION
CVE32306

Example:
• The laboratory test results for a standard proctor test are given below:
• Wet mass (g) 2010 2092 2114 2100 2055
• Dry mass (g) 1782 1827 1829 1798 1724
• Given the mould volume (1000cm3), find the maximum dry density, the
optimum moisture content. If the specific gravity of soil is 2.67, draw
the zero air voids line.

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SOIL MECHANICS I
SOIL COMPACTION
CVE32306

Example:

dry density
Wet mass (g) Dry mass (g) water (g) water content (%) Z.A.V
(g/cm3)
2010 1782 228 12.8% 1.782 1.990
2092 1827 265 14.5% 1.827 1.925
2114 1829 285 15.6% 1.829 1.886
2100 1798 302 16.8% 1.798 1.843
2055 1724 331 19.2% 1.724 1.765

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SOIL MECHANICS I
SOIL COMPACTION
CVE32306

Example:
1.86
1.84
1.82
1.80
M.D.D 1.832 g/cm3
1.78
1.76 O.M.C 15.1%
1.74
1.72
12% 14% 16% 18% 20%
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SOIL MECHANICS I
SOIL COMPACTION
CVE32306

Field Compaction:
• Compaction can be accomplished in three different ways:

a) Conventional compaction

b) Dynamic compaction

c) Vibro-compaction/replacement

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SOIL MECHANICS I
SOIL COMPACTION
CVE32306
Conventional Compaction:
• Accomplished by traversing the area to be treated repeatedly (typically 6
passes) with a roller.
• The compactive effect is only superficial (extending to a depth of 150-
300mm).
• The method is best suited to instances where the ground can be built up in
150-300 mm layers (lifts).
• There are different types of compaction equipment based on type of soil
and compactive effort. They can be divided into:
1) Light soil compaction equipment
2) Heavy soil compaction equipment
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SOIL MECHANICS I
SOIL COMPACTION
CVE32306
Light Compaction Equipment:
• Light compaction equipment are used in small areas and inaccessible areas.

Rammer Vibrating Plate Roller

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SOIL MECHANICS I
SOIL COMPACTION
CVE32306

Heavy Compaction Equipment:

1) Smooth-wheel rollers:
• Consists either of a single steel drum,
or two drums.
• Two types:
Static smooth wheeled rollers
Vibrating smooth wheeled rollers
• Suitable for most soils except
uniform sands, silty sands and soft
clays.

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SOIL MECHANICS I
SOIL COMPACTION
CVE32306

2) Sheepsfoot rollers:
• Consists of steel drums fitted with
numerous tapered feet projecting from
their surface.
• Feet dimensions can vary but usually
they are from 200 to 250 mm in length
and 40 to 65 cm2 in area.
• Suitable for fine grained soils, sands and
gravels with more than 20% fines.
• Not suitable for very coarse soils.

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SOIL MECHANICS I
SOIL COMPACTION
CVE32306

3) Pneumatic rollers:
• Consists of rubber tires set on two axles
set in a way that rear wheels are to
overlap the front ones.
• Suitable for a wide range of fine and
coarse grained soils.
• Not suitable for uniform soils.

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SOIL MECHANICS I
SOIL COMPACTION
CVE32306

Dynamic Compaction:
• Well-suited to the treatment of
existing deep deposits of
material, particularly loose
granular material, or reclaimed
alluvial materials.

• The technique requires only a

crane and a suitable heavy mass
which can be dropped on to the
ground from a significant height.

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SOIL MECHANICS I
SOIL COMPACTION
CVE32306

Dynamic Compaction:

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SOIL MECHANICS I
SOIL COMPACTION
CVE32306
Dynamic Compaction:
• This technique can be used to treat a large area in a very short time.
However, the ground vibration and noise resulting from the impact of a
large falling mass may cause unacceptable nuisance to people in the
neighbourhood and may also cause damage to neighbouring structures.
The resulting ground surface will be heavily cratered and further treatment
of the surface layers is usually required.

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SOIL MECHANICS I
SOIL COMPACTION
CVE32306
Dynamic Compaction:
• It has been reported that weights W of 200 tonnes have been dropped
through a height H of 25m. At this scale, the (lateral) spacing between
drops S can be as much as 15m and the depth D of the zone of influence
extends to 40m.
𝐷𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 𝑛 𝑊𝐻 𝑊 𝑖𝑛 𝑡𝑜𝑛𝑛𝑒𝑠, 𝐻 𝑖𝑛 𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠
𝑛 ≡ 𝐴 𝑐𝑜𝑒𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑑𝑒𝑝𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑠 𝑜𝑛 𝑠𝑜𝑖𝑙 𝑡𝑦𝑝𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑝𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑢𝑠𝑒𝑑

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SOIL MECHANICS I
SOIL COMPACTION
CVE32306

Vibro-Compaction: • An alternative means of

compaction is to “tamp” the soil
using vibratory loading plant
(vibro-compaction) or, if this is not
possible, to replace some of the
existing ground material with
granular fill which can be
compacted in this way (vibro-
replacement).
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SOIL MECHANICS I
SOIL COMPACTION
CVE32306
Compaction Standards:
• The standard of field compaction is usually controlled through either:
1. End-product specifications:
The target parameters are specified based on laboratory test results.
2. Method specifications:
A procedure for the site is specified. For example giving: Type and
weight of compaction equipment, maximum soil layer thickness and
number of passes for each layer.

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SOIL MECHANICS I
SOIL COMPACTION
CVE32306

Assessment of compaction:
• Assessment of compaction is a quality control process. In case of end-
product specifications, a control measure can be used to make sure that
the compaction was done adequately, this measure is known as relative
compaction (R.C).
d filed
R.C.   100%
d max laboratory

Typical required R.C. = 90% ~ 95%

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SOIL MECHANICS I
SOIL COMPACTION
CVE32306

Assessment Methods:
• Field control tests, measuring the dry density and water content in the field
can either be destructive or non-destructive.

Non-destructive tests:
Non-destructive tests do not involve any
disturbance to the compacted material. The
most common method is Nuclear density
meter.

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SOIL MECHANICS I
SOIL COMPACTION
CVE32306

Destructive tests:
These tests involve making a hole in the compacted layer, and they share
the same principle.
a) Sand cone
b) Balloon
c) Oil (or water) method

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SOIL MECHANICS I
SOIL COMPACTION
CVE32306

• The principle of destructive tests is that:

a) A hole is made in the compacted layer
b) The soil from the hole is collected.
c) The volume of the hole is measured.
d) The collected soil is weighted then
dried and weighted again.
e) Dry density of compacted soil is
obtained.

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SOIL COMPACTION
CVE32306

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