CVEN90044 Eng Site Characterisation

- Compaction tests / Use of Maps -

The University of Melbourne >

Geomaterials as construction materials
The Age, December 10 2007

Eastlink: The Dandenong Bypass

under construction (2007)
Geomaterials as construction materials
http://usucger.org

Los Vaqueros Dam in California (USA)

Soil compaction: Soil improvement

Compaction: the most common and

simple soil improvement method
 Compaction
• Densification of soil by input of mechanical energy,
primarily by reducing air voids.
• Basic theoretical background was developed by
Proctor in 1933, introducing the well known
compaction curve.
• Done to improve soil properties:
– Increased density or reduced void ratio
– Increased strength and stiffness
– Reduced permeability
 Field Compaction
o One of the most important aspects of earthwork construction.

o A major soil stabilization technique in civil engineering infrastructure

projects such as:

• Pavement construction,

• Road fills,

• Ground improvement and,

• Embankment dams and

• Site preparation works.

Proper compaction on site often is the key difference between a poor fill and
an excellent fill.
 Compaction tests
How do we determine the optimal compaction
parameters?

 through Compaction Tests in the lab

Australia:
Standard (AS 1289.5.1.1-2003)
Modified (AS 1289.5.2.1-2003)

USA:
Standard Proctor (ASTM D698, AASHTO T99)
Modified Proctor (ASTM D1557, AASHTO T180)
 Modified
Molds and hammers (2703kJ/m3)

Standard
(596kJ/m3)

105 mm 152 mm

Mold A Mold B 2.7kg 4.9kg

Method
 Compaction tests
Dry density

pmax

Standard

wopt Moisture content

 Compaction tests
Dry density

Modified

pmax

Standard

wopt Moisture content

 Compaction tests
Dry density

•Construction specifications
•Usually 95% max density
•Cation: 2 moisture contents!
•Compaction  strength ↑
Modified

pmax
0.95*pmax

Standard

wnatural wopt Moisture content

 Field Compaction

Sheepfoot-roller: Used for fine-grained soils

Field Compaction

Sheep-foot-roller:
Used for fine-grained soils

(Duncan)
 Field Compaction

Drum type roller: Used for coarse-grained soils (vibration)

Field Compaction
 Use of Maps

In the following slides, I will be using drawings extracted from Lewis

and Gunther (1998), ‘An introduction to geological maps’.
 Typical components of
geological (and other) maps
 Scale
Numerical
1:75,000 means
1 drawing division = 75,000 actual divisions
1 cm = 75,000 cm = 750 m
Which map scale will give you greater detail?
a) 1:1,000,000 b) 1:250,000
(raise you hand) (raise a piece of paper)

What happens if you print the map in a different paper size?

 Scale
Graphical
What happens if you print the map in a different paper size?
Multi-scale Maps

1:10,000,000

1:1,000,000

1:100,000

1:10,000

1:1,000
 Scale: Self-guide site visit (group)

0 400 m
 Scale: Self-guide site visit (group)

0 400 m

North!

0 400 m
Orientation / Longitude and Latitude

270 degrees 90 degrees

180 degrees
Orientation / Longitude and Latitude
 The Legend

Igneous rocks
Formed from the cooling of molten rock material

Sedimentary rocks
Consolidation of sediments (sand, clay, silt, mud!)

Metamorphic rocks
Have changed their nature (re-crystallised) due to high
pressures (may be heated, but not melted)
 Rock Cycle

Some content from: Dr Robert

Evans (Swinburne Uni )
Examples of rock types
Symbols
Some definitions…
Some definitions…
 Some definitions…

http://maps.unomaha.edu/Peterson/geog1000/Matrix.html
Some definitions…
 Geological Map Reading

Although new sedimentary layers are laid in horizontal layers, they often do not
remain horizontal due to the pressure of underlying magma, volcanic activity,
tectonic plate movements and movement of fault lines.

To map or identify these sedimentary layers, we use the following measures:

• Dip Angle or True Dip

• Dip Direction
• Strike Direction
• Exaggerated

Slides Courtesy of Dr Robert Evans

 Dip and Strike
• Dip Angle or True Dip – is the maximum vertical angle between a bed and a
horizontal surface, which occurs for cross-sections drawn parallel to the dip direction.
• Dip Direction – is the compass bearing for the direction of the true dip
(max dip), which lies at right angles to the strike direction.
• Strike Direction – is the direction (compass bearing) of the horizontal line drawn on
the bedding plane, which lies at right angles to the direction of the max dipping angle

Slides Courtesy of Dr Robert Evans

 Geological Map Reading

Exaggerated True Dip

As geological cross-sections can be very long (up to hundreds of kilometres long)
and relatively thin, they are often drawn to an exaggerated scale to enlarge and
better represent the detail of the bedding planes.
The exaggerated scale is simply where the vertical scale is drawn different to the
horizontal scale.

For example, if we draw a geological cross-section with a horizontal

scale at 1 in 10,000 and a vertical scale at 1 in 2,500 – this equates to
an exaggeration factor of 4

Slides Courtesy of Dr Robert Evans

 Exercise:

For the geological block

shown below, calculate
A
the exaggerated true
dip for cross-section A-A 36
if the horizontal scale is
to be 1:6000 and the
vertical scale 1:2000.
A
The true dip of the
bedding planes is 36.

First, we will calculate the exaggerated true dip for cross section AA.
If the horizontal scale is 1:6,000 and the vertical scale is 1:2,000 – then the
exaggeration factor is 3
Slides Courtesy of Dr Robert Evans
 Calculating the Exaggerated True Dip for Section AA
As the exaggeration factor is 3 and True
Dip = 36°, then
1. Draw a triangle to scale using the true dip angle (it is good practice to
have the height of the triangle as an even unit).

True Dip = 36°

Try to make this
Exaggerated True Dip
distance an even unit
(say 4 cm)

3 x 4 cm = 12 cm

Slides Courtesy of Dr Robert Evans

Calculating the Exaggerated True Dip for Section AA
2. Exaggerate the vertical scale by a factor of 3 and draw this on the
diagram (i.e. multiply the height of the triangle by 3) – then simply
measure or calculate the exaggerated true dip.

True Dip = 36°

Try to make this
Exaggerated True Dip
distance an even unit
(say 4 cm)

3 x 4 cm = 12 cm

Answer: Exaggerated True Dip = 65.35° Slides Courtesy of Dr Robert Evans

 Some definitions…

Igneous Rocks:
• Extrusive (Volcanic)
• Major Intrusive (Plutonic)
• Minor Intrusive (Hypabassal)
Some definitions…
 Contour lines
•Lines that joint points of equal elevation above the sea level.
•Contour interval
•Contour lines close to each other means…
a) Steep slopes b) Gentle slopes
(raise you hand) (raise a piece of paper)
 Contour lines
•Lines that joint points of equal elevation above the sea level.
•Contour interval
•Contour lines close to each other means…
a) Steep slopes b) Gentle slopes
(raise you hand) (raise a piece of paper)
 Summary
•Compaction (tests & field)
•Reading maps
•Scales
•Legends
•Symbols

Reminders:
Tutorial = none this week
PC Lab = Yes, 1hr with tutors to ask questions 
Field practical = none this week (BUT self-guided week 3)
Assignments = Check LMS>Assessment and Feedback
 PC Lab Session
• 1 hr PC lab session this week
(check Tut/PC/FT schedule in LMS)
• Your fieldwork timeslots/stream  Tut/Prac stream
• Attend YOUR own pract timeslot
• Evacuate your doubts

Groups
• Self-guide visit (group effort)
• Groups posted by ~Friday in LMS
• Your fieldwork timeslots/stream  Tut/Prac stream