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 (ρ d)

Soil grains densely packed

- good strength and stiffness

ρ d,
- low permeability
max

optimum
water content Water content 3
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Compaction Curve
What happens to the relative quantities of
the three phases with addition of water?
air
water
Dry density (ρ d)

soil

difficult to
expel all air

lowest void
ratio and
highest dry
density at
optimum w 4
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Zero Air Void Curve

Dry density (ρ d)

- corresponds to 100% saturation

Zero air void curve (S=100%)

Gs ρ w
Eq : ρ d =
1 + wGs
S<10
0% S>100%
(impossible)
All compaction points should lie
to the left of ZAV curve

Water content 5
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Effect of Compactive Effort

Dry density (ρ d)

Increasing compactive
effort results in:
 Lower optimum
water content
E2 (>E1)  Higher maximum
dry density

E1

Water content 6
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Compaction and Clay
Fabric
Dry density (ρ d)

more dispersed fabric Higher water content or higher

compactive effort gives more
dispersed fabric.

more dispersed fabric

Water content 7
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Line of Optimum
Dry density (ρ d)

Compaction
curves for
different efforts

Line of
optimum

Water content 8
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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

 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 12
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Field Compaction
Impact Roller

 Provides deeper (2-3m) compaction.

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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 • Minimum dry density

1000 m3 of • Range of water content
compacted soil

Field measurements (of ρ d) obtained

using
• sand cone
• nuclear density meter 14
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 Laboratory Compaction
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Test
- to obtain the compaction curve and define the
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

ρ d Compacti
on
specificati Compare
ons
ρ =? !
d,field
w
wfield = ?

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.

solution
Pounder (Tamper) 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:
 vibro–compaction
 stone columns
 vibro-replacement

Vibroflot (vibrating unit)

Length = 2 – 3 m
Diameter = 0.3 – 0.5 m
Mass = 2 tonnes
(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 ..and Densely

hole
makes a compacted compacted
backfilled
hole in the 27
stone column
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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) 29
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Earthmoving Equipment

Grader for spreading soil

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Earthmoving Equipment

Bulldozer for spreading soil

evenly 31
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Earthmoving Equipment

Loader

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Earthmoving Equipment

Backhoe
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Earthmoving Equipment

Crawler mounted Hydraulic 34

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Earthmoving Equipment

Rock Breaker

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