14me CRA MSG, Yaound, 26-28 Novembre 2007 14th ARC SMGE, Yaounde, 26-28 November 2007

RAPID DETERMINATION OF SOIL COMPACTION CHARACTERISTICS

USING MICROWAVE OVEN DRYING METHOD

MTHODE RAPIDE DE DTERMINATION DES CARACTRISTIQUES DE
COMPACTAGE DUN SOL LAIDE DUN FOUR MICRO-ONDES

Abdul Karim Mohammad ZEIN
Building and Road Research Institute (BRRI), Khartoum, Sudan


ABSTRACT This paper describes a practical, relatively fast and fairly accurate laboratory soil
compaction method that suits earthworks construction projects requiring high daily rates of filling.
The study is based on comparison of compaction test results obtained by the BS ordinary (2.5 kg
rammer) test and a non-standard rapid test procedure involving the determination of soil moisture
content by microwave drying technique. Seventy one soil sample pairs representing various types
including sands (SP, SM and SC) and clays of variable plasticity degrees (CL to CH) were tested in
this study. Statistical regression analysis of test data revealed very good relationships between the
compaction optimum moisture content and maximum dry density values obtained from the
standard and rapid methods.

RSUM Cet article dcrit une mthode pratique, rapide et fiable, de compactage en laboratoire,
destine au suivi de la construction des remblais, dont les volumes journaliers de mise en oeuvre
sont souvent trs importants. Ltude est base sur une comparaison entre les rsultats dessais
classiques BS (masse de 2.5 kg), et ceux dun processus plus rapide mais non standardis, qui
dtermine les teneurs en eau par schage des matriaux au four micro ondes. Soixante et onze
chantillons de matriaux divers, comprenant plusieurs varits de sables, ainsi que des sols
argileux avec des plasticits diffrentes ont t tests. Il en ressort une bonne corrlation entre les
densits et les teneurs en eau optimales des essais classiques et ceux de la mthode rapide.


1. Introduction

Soil compaction is one of the most critical components in the construction of dam embankments,
roads, airfield strips and foundations. In the construction of such earthworks, the compaction
control of the soil requires comparison of fill moisture content and dry density values obtained in
field density tests with optimum moisture content (w
opt
) and maximum dry density (
dmax
)
determined for the same fill material in the laboratory following standard compaction test methods.
For fine-grained or coarse-grained soils with appreciable fines content, field results are compared
with laboratory compaction tests performed according to procedures presented in the BS, ASTM,
DIN and other widely recognised standards, as well as the locally accepted standards.
Performance of a standard laboratory compaction test on material from each field density test point
would give the most accurate relation of the in-place material to the optimum water content and
maximum dry density. However, this is not generally feasible because testing could not keep pace
with the rate of filling. Nonetheless, standard compaction tests should be performed during
construction when:
an insufficient number of compaction curves were developed during the design phase;
borrow material is obtained from a new source, and
material similar to that being placed has not been tested previously.
In any event, standard laboratory compaction tests should be performed periodically on each
type of fill material (preferably one test for every ten field density tests) to check the optimum water
content and maximum dry density values used for correlation with the field density test results.
In addition to standard compaction methods, the construction of earthworks requiring high rates
of filling normally necessitates the use of rapid methods for determining the compaction
characteristics of the placed construction materials, to provide good approximation of optimum
water content and maximum dry density obtained from standard test results.
This paper presents the findings of a comparative experimental investigation aiming at
establishing the relationship between the compaction characteristics of soils determined by two
different procedures of laboratory test further referred to as the standard and rapid compaction
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14me CRA MSG, Yaound, 26-28 Novembre 2007 14th ARC SMGE, Yaounde, 26-28 November 2007

methods. The standard compaction method adopted for comparison is the widely used BS ordinary
(2.5 kg rammer) laboratory test known also as standard Proctor test, whereas the rapid one is a
non-standardized compaction method developed during the construction phase of a major
embankment dam project in Sudan. The basic difference between the two compaction test
procedures is in the method of drying soil specimens during testing: the soil moisture content is
determined in the rapid compaction test by drying soil in a calibrated microwave oven as opposed
to the conventional 24 hrs drying oven method normally used in the standard compaction test
procedure.
Details of the rapid compaction method developed and the discussion of the results of the
compaction tests performed in this comparative study are described in the following sections.


2. Determination of soil moisture content by the microwave oven drying method

Microwave energy may be used for drying soil samples rapidly and thus enabling quick
determination of moisture content (ASTM, 1989). However, before applying the microwave drying
method on routine basis for soil moisture content determination, it is necessary to establish for
each soil type the correlation between the data determined by this method and by the conventional
oven method used in the standard compaction test. To achieve this objective, several test series
were planned and performed on many samples prepared from the soil types considered in this
study at widely different moisture contents. Two different microwave oven models of the rotating
table type were used for the study purpose to dry a large number of soil specimens representing
different soil types and conditions and the same results were obtained in both cases. The best
correlations with the definitive standard moisture content determination method were established
when drying times of 7 and 9 minutes were selected after many calibration trials for sandy and
clayey soil samples respectively in the microwave oven.
Details of the comparison study results and the findings drawn from the analysis of the moisture
content test data corresponding to the sandy and clayey soils are described in a separate
publication (Zein, 2002) but a summary of the main study findings is presented in the following
sections for sandy and clayey soil types respectively.

2.1 Moisture content correlation for sandy soils

Moisture content tests were performed by the standard and the microwave oven methods on 106
sample pairs of clean sand (SP/SW) and 139 sample pairs of silty and clayey sand (SM/SC) soil
types. Eight identical (50g in mass) specimens were prepared from each soil sample; five of which
were dried in the microwave oven for 7 minutes and three in the conventional oven for 24 hours.
The moisture content test results were analysed by statistical regression to define the
mathematical relationship between the data obtained according to the two different methods.
Similar correlation equations were obtained for the SP and the SM/SC soils with regression
correlation coefficient (R
2
) values very close to unity (0.986 to 0.996), thus indicating an excellent
correlation of the moisture content data determined by the standard and the microwave methods. A
single moisture content correlation relationship (with R
2
=0.994) was therefore proposed between
the standard moisture content (w
s
) and the microwave moisture content (w
m
) based on test data of
all sandy soils (245 sample pairs) tested (equation 1):
w
m
= 0.999 w
s
+ 0.11 (1)
This combined moisture content equation was developed for sandy soils (SP, SM and SC types)
with moisture content values ranging from 2.5 to 25.0 %.

2.2 Clay soils with variable degree of plasticity

Similarly, a large number of moisture content comparison tests were carried out on clay soils of
different initial moisture contents including clay samples of low plasticity (CL), intermediate
plasticity (Cl), high plasticity (CH) and very high plasticity (CV). For each sample, five specimens
were tested in the microwave oven for 9 minutes and three in the conventional oven for 24 hrs.
Statistical analysis of the data was carried out using the linear regression method for each clay
type separately. The moisture content correlation equations established between the two test data
for the clays with variable degree of plasticity were practically similar with correlation coefficient
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(R
2
) values ranging between 0.98 and 0.99. In practical terms, it would be desirable and preferable
to have a single moisture content correlation for all clay types as the use of individual correlation
equations would require pre-classification of each material tested which may not be known in all
instances. Based on this, the moisture content data measured in all clay soil types (451 sample
pairs) were used to develop the following combined correlation equation with R
2
=0.986:
w
m
=1.02 w
s
+ 0.96 . (2)


3. Rapid compaction test method

3.1 Preamble

Quick and good approximation of compaction characteristics of soils may be achieved by means of
few empirical methods, such as the one-point and two-point compaction methods developed in
some countries and accepted by certain authorities e.g. the USBR (U.S. Bureau of Reclamation).
In these two rapid compaction methods, material from the field density test is allowed to dry with
thorough mixing to obtain uniform moisture content on the dry side of estimated optimum value and
then compacted using the same apparatus and procedure used in the standard five/six points
compaction test. The moisture content and dry density of the compacted sample are then used to
estimate the optimum water content and maximum dry density values from the line of optimums
drawn on a predetermined chart consisting of compaction curves which are approximately parallel
to each other. However, these methods are only useful when the basic compaction curves define a
relatively good line of optimums. Appreciable inaccuracy in results may occur in one-point and two-
point methods if attempts are made to extrapolate optimum water content and maximum dry
density from non-uniform families of compaction curves (US Department of Army and Air Force,
1983)
In the present investigation, an attempt was made to develop an alternative quick compaction
test that enables relatively fast and reasonably accurate determination of the optimum water
content and maximum dry density values for clays and sands with appreciable fines. The main
purpose was to use this rapid test for control of field compaction in order to check within a
reasonable time whether the fill material placement acceptance criterion is met or not. The sample
preparation and procedure of the rapid compaction method proposed for use as a quality control
test are described in the following section.

3.2 Soil sample preparation and testing procedure

A bulk soil sample of about 30 kg in mass was taken from the fill materials placed in the field and
divided into two approximately equal portions and each was prepared differently as described
below for the two compaction test methods.

3.1.1. Standard compaction test method
The first sample portion was broken down into small lumps and left to dry in the air. After air drying,
the sample was further broken down to about 5 mm size and then sub-divided into six equal sub-
samples each weighing approximately 2 kg. Distilled water was added to each sub-sample in
different quantities so as to obtain a range of moisture content that is likely to encompass the
optimum water content value of the soil. Each sub-sample was then thoroughly mixed by hand in a
tray and was then placed in an airtight plastic bag and left overnight to cure.
The standard soil compaction procedure designated in the British standards (BS 1377, 1990) as
the BS Ordinary (2.5 kg rammer) method was followed in this test. All sub-samples prepared
differently, as described in Section 3.2.1, were compacted in a standard 1 litre compaction mould
in three layers of approximately equal mass; each receiving 27 rammer blows. The moisture
content of the tested soil specimens was determined after drying them at a temperature of 105-
110 C inside a conventional oven for 16-24 hours time. The compaction curves were plotted for
each soil type and the corresponding optimum water content and maximum dry density values
were determined. The standard compaction test was performed as described above on 71 soil
samples.
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3.1.2. Rapid compaction test method
The second soil sample portion was taken to the laboratory at its original (placement or natural)
moisture content and divided into five sub-samples after being broken down by hand into small
lumps with maximum size of 20 mm. One sub-sample was stored at its original moisture content in
a closed plastic bag, whereas distilled water was added in variable quantities to the remaining four
sub-samples to give a moisture content range encompassing the optimum water content value.
These sub-samples were thoroughly mixed with water by hand and allowed to cure in closed
plastic bags for about three hours. These samples were then compacted using the same
apparatus, compaction energy and procedure used in the standard method described in section
3.2.1. The moisture content of the soil specimens was determined by rapid drying in the microwave
oven for 7 minutes in sandy soil samples and for 9 minutes in clayey soil samples. The type of
microwave oven regularly used in this investigation for drying tested soil samples was a rotating
table National Electronics Co. (J apan) make, Model No. 6550.
The equivalent standard moisture content values were computed from the determined microwave
oven moisture content test data according to Equations (1) and (2) for the sandy and clayey soils
respectively. The rapid compaction test was performed on the second pairs of the same 71 soil
samples tested by the standard method as stated in section 3.2.1. The compaction curves were
drawn for each of the soil samples tested according to this compaction procedure and the
corresponding values of the optimum water content and maximum dry density were determined.


4. Discussion of compaction test results

The soils samples tested in this investigation covered a wide range in terms of their type and
placement conditions. According to the Unified System of Classifying Soils, these soils belong to
the SM, SC, CL and CH groups.
The compaction curves were used to determine the optimum water content and maximum dry
density values for each sample pair tested by the standard and the rapid test methods. Simple
statistical data of compaction test obtained for the 71 sample pairs tested according to the
standard and rapid methods are given in Table 1.

Table 1. Ranges, average values and standard deviation of compaction optimum water contents
and maximum dry densities of the tested soils

Compaction test Standard method Rapid method
Compaction property w
opt
(%)
dmax
(Mg/m
3
) w
opt
(%)
dmax
(Mg/m
3
)
Range 13.0-26.8 1.47-1.88 10.0-25.9 1.45-1.90
Average value 21.1 1.62 21.7 1.61
Standard deviation 4.2 0.12 4.2 0

It is interesting to note from the data given in Table 1 that the two different compaction methods
yielded practically the same values of the average optimum water content w
opt
and the average
maximum dry density
dmax
as well as the standard deviation values for the same compaction
properties.
To compare the test results, the optimum water content and maximum dry density values
determined by the standard and the rapid compaction methods were plotted against each other in
Figures 1 and 2, respectively, for the 71 sample pairs tested. The trends indicated in both figures
show that there is a good agreement between the two sets of results pertaining to the two different
compaction test procedures. The degree of data scatter is generally small, as may be noted in
Figures 1 and 2, but it is more significant in the case of clayey soils (CL, CH types) which are
known to exhibit higher optimum water contents and lower maximum dry densities, as compared to
those normally achieved in sandy soils.
A good consistency between the two sets of data was also indicated by the coincidence of the
frequency curves plotted using results from both compaction test methods for optimum water
content values lower than 20% and maximum dry density values higher than 1.63 Mg/m
3
of the
tested soil types. These optimum water content and maximum dry density values are typical of
coarse grained materials represented by the SP/SW and SM/SC soil types.
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Statistical analysis was performed on the standard and rapid compaction test data shown
graphically in Figures 1 and 2 by regression methods to establish the relationship between the two
sets of data in mathematical forms and evaluate the degree of correlation between them. The
regression analysis carried out revealed that the compaction properties (OMC and MDD)
determined by the standard and rapid compaction test compare favourably for the sandy and
clayey soil types considered in the present study.

8
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
24
26
28
8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28
O
p
t
i
m
u
m

w
a
t
e
r

c
o
n
t
e
n
t
(
S
t
a
n
d
a
r
d

m
e
t
h
o
d
)
,

%

Optimum water content (Rapid method), %

Figure 1. Relationship between the optimum water contents obtained by the standard and the rapid
compaction methods

1.40
1.45
1.50
1.55
1.60
1.65
1.70
1.75
1.80
1.85
1.90
1.95
2.00
1.40 1.45 1.50 1.55 1.60 1.65 1.70 1.75 1.80 1.85 1.90 1.95 2.00
Maximum dry density (Rapid method), Mg/m
3

M
a
x
i
m
u
m

d
r
y

d
e
n
s
i
t
y


(
S
t
a
n
d
a
r
d

m
e
t
h
o
d
)
,

M
g
/
m
3


Figure 2. Relationship between the maximum dry densities obtained by the standard and the rapid
compaction methods

The relationships between the optimum water content w
opt
and the maximum dry density
dmax

determined according to the two compaction tests may be expressed by the following two
equations:
(w
opt
)
s
=1.7556 (w
opt
)
r

0.8083
, (3)
(
dmax
)
s
=0.8794 (
dmax
)
r
+0.2018 . (4)
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14me CRA MSG, Yaound, 26-28 Novembre 2007 14th ARC SMGE, Yaounde, 26-28 November 2007

The subscripts s and r in above equations denote the standard and rapid compaction tests
respectively and reasonably high correlation coefficients (R
2
) of 0.86 and 0.92 were obtained for
the optimum water content and maximum dry density data respectively, indicating close
relationships between the results of the two compaction methods.
Equations 3 and 4 are of empirical nature and may be used to estimate the standard compaction
characteristics, which normally take relatively long time to determine (typically 3 to 4 days), from
the rapid compaction data, which can be obtained within a much shorter time (3 to 6 hours). This
information is desirable to be known in many cases for quality control evaluation at the various
construction stages of earthworks, including material selection, preparation and treatment in the
borrow areas and stockpiles, and material placement on the formation. This would particularly be
very useful in certain situations when some information is urgently needed to evaluate the quality
of completed earthfill construction works in respect to its compliance with the specifications
required by the design or supervision engineers of the project.


5. Conclusions

A rapid laboratory compaction test method was developed for determining the compaction
characteristics of sandy and clayey soils within the same working day (3 to 6 hours time) which can
be used in the quality control testing during the construction of earthworks projects. Soils of
different types and conditions included silty and clayey sands (SM, SC) and clays of variable
degree of plasticity (CL to CH) were considered in this study. Microwave energy was used in this
method for the determination of moisture content in a very short time (about 15-20 minutes) using
a previously established correlation relationships between the standard 24 hrs conventional oven
drying method for the same soil types.
The study results were analysed by statistical regression to evaluate the relationship between the
optimum moisture content (w
opt
) and the maximum dry density (
dmax
) determined by the BS
standard ordinary (2.5 kg rammer) test and the rapid compaction test procedures. Analysis of
compaction test data revealed the existence of strong mathematical relationships (expressed in
Equations 3 and 4) between the optimum water content and maximum dry density values obtained
in the two different compaction test methods for the soil types considered.
The results of the present study suggest that the rapid compaction method described in this
paper could be used as a quality control test for the construction of earthworks fill materials with
reasonable degree of accuracy and confidence.


6. References

American Society for Testing and Materials (1989). Standard test method for determination of
water content by the microwave oven method Standard D4643-87, Vol. 04.09, ASTM
Philadelphia, Pa. USA.
BS 1377:1990. British Standard Methods of test for soils for civil engineering purposes. British
Standards Institute, UK.
US Departments of the Army and Air Force (1983). Backfill for subsurface structures. Technical
Manual No. 5-818-4, Chapter 5, Washington DC.
Zein A.K.M. (2002). Rapid determination of moisture content by the microwave oven drying
method. Sudan Engineering Society Journal, Vol. 48, No. 40, pp. 43-54.
196