Compaction

N. Sivakugan
Duration = 10 minutes

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What is compaction?

A simple ground improvement technique, where the soil

is densified through external compactive effort.

Compactive
effort

+ water =
2

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Compaction Curve

Dry density (d)

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Soil grains densely packed

- good strength and stiffness
- low permeability

d, max

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optimum
water content

Water content

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Compaction Curve

Dry density (d)

What happens to the relative quantities of the three phases

with addition of water?
air
water
soil
difficult to expel all air

lowest void ratio and

highest dry density at
optimum w
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Water content

Zero Air Void Curve

Dry density (d)

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- corresponds to 100% saturation

Zero air void curve (S=100%)

S<100%

Gs w
Eq : d
1 wGs

S>100% (impossible)
All compaction points should lie
to the left of ZAV curve

Water content
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Dry density (d)

Effect of Compactive Effort

Increasing compactive
effort results in:

E2 (>E1)

Lower optimum water

content
Higher maximum dry
density

E1

Water content
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Compaction and Clay

Fabric
more dispersed fabric

Dry density (d)

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Higher water content or higher

compactive effort gives more
dispersed fabric.

more dispersed fabric

Water content
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Dry density (d)

Line of Optimum
Compaction curves
for different efforts

Line of optimum

Water content
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Filed Compaction
Different types of rollers (clockwise
from right):
Smooth-wheel roller
Vibratory roller

Pneumatic rubber tired roller

Sheepsfoot roller

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Field Compaction
Smooth Wheeled Roller

Compacts effectively only to 200-300 mm;

therefore, place the soil in shallow layers (lifts)
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Field Compaction
Vibrating Plates

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for compacting very small

areas
effective for granular soils

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Field Compaction
Sheepsfoot
Roller

Provides kneading action; walks out after compaction

Very effective on clays
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Field Compaction
Impact Roller

Provides deeper (2-3m) compaction. e.g., air field

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Compaction Control
-a systematic exercise where you check
at regular intervals whether the
compaction was done to specifications.
e.g., 1 test per
1000 m3 of
compacted soil

Minimum
Minimumdry
drydensity
density
Range
Rangeofofwater
watercontent
content

Field measurements (of d) obtained using

sand cone
nuclear density meter
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Laboratory Compaction
Test
- to obtain the compaction curve and define the

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optimum water content and maximum dry density for a

specific compactive effort.

Standard Proctor:

hammer

Modified Proctor:

3 layers

5 layers

25 blows per layer

25 blows per layer

2.7 kg hammer

4.9 kg hammer

300 mm drop

450 mm drop

1000 ml compaction mould

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Compaction Control Test

Compaction
specifications

d,field = ?
wfield = ?

Compare
!

compacted ground
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Dynamic Compaction
- pounding the ground by a heavy weight
Suitable for granular soils, land fills and
karst terrain with sink holes.

Pounder (Tamper)

solution cavities in
limestone

Crater created by the impact

(to be backfilled)

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Dynamic Compaction

Pounder (Tamper)
Mass = 5-30 tonne
Drop = 10-30 m
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Dynamic Compaction

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Vibroflotation
Suitable for granular soils
Practiced in several forms:

vibrocompaction

stone columns

vibro-replacement

Vibroflot (vibrating unit)

Length = 2 3 m
Diameter = 0.3 0.5 m
Mass = 2 tonnes

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(lowered into the ground

and vibrated)

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Vibroflotation

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Vibroflotation

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Vibroflotation

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Vibroflotation

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Vibroflotation

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Vibroflotation

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Stone Columns

vibrator makes a
hole in the weak
ground

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hole backfilled ..and compacted Densely compacted

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Blasting
For densifying granular soils

Fireworks?

Aftermath of blasting

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Earthmoving Equipment
David and Goliath?

Large Excavator (see minivan on left for

scale)
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Earthmoving Equipment

Grader for spreading soil

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Earthmoving Equipment

Bulldozer for spreading soil

evenly
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Earthmoving Equipment

Loader
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Earthmoving Equipment

Backhoe
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Earthmoving Equipment

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Crawler mounted Hydraulic

Excavator

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Earthmoving Equipment

Rock Breaker
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