COMPARISION OF DIFFERENT SOIL COMPACTION TEST METHODS

Andrus Aavik, D.Sc. (Tech.) Department of Transportation

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Introduction

Currently the quality control of embankment construction is determined by the Technological Requirements for Road Works established with the Decree of the Ministry of Transportation and Communication of the Republic of Estonia. The Technological Requirements are not determining specific test methods which can be used for determination of the soil compaction coefficient. The main objective of the research project was to compare different soil compaction test methods: core testing with the cutting ring and penetration with the BELDORNII penetrometer with determination of the compaction coefficient and E-modulus and compaction factor determination with the LOADMAN and INSPECTOR devices.

What is compaction?

Compaction is the reduction in the void ratio on a soil by mechanical means (rolling or tamping) at constant moisture. It is not possible to remove water from the voids by compaction, but the addition of water to a slightly moist soil facilitates compaction by reducing surface tension. There is an optimum moisture content which can be determined in laboratory using the Proctor test and above which the addition of water causes an increase in voids. Compactness of the embankment can be characterized with the compaction coefficient (Kc) which is the ratio of actual dry density of the soil sample () and maximum dry density of the same soil at the optimum moisture content (o) determined with the Proctor method:

Kc= / o

What is compaction?

Soil Compaction Test Methods

There are 6 main on site compaction test methods: Core test using cutting ring; method is not suitable for coarse grained soils; Sand replacement (sand cone test) method is precise and is used for calibration of compaction meters with radioactive isotope; inaccurate in porous soils; Rubber balloon similar to the sand replacement test but instead of sand the rubber balloon is used to fill the hollow in the compacted layer; Nuclear gauge (compaction meter with radioactive isotope) problems can occur when testing crushed stone and calcareous materials, needs to be calibrated; Plate bearing test suitable for gravels and crushed stone; time-consuming; Penetrometer (dynamic or static) suitable for fine (sandy) soils; fast results.

Soil Compaction Requirements

Estonian Highway Design Norms are determining that the compactness of the road embankment, characterized with the compaction coefficient, has to fulfill the following requirements:
Depth h from the pavement surface, m h< Hp + 0,5 Hp + 0,5 h < 1,5 h1,5 h1,5 Minimum values of the compaction coefficient Kc for different pavement types Permanent Light or transient pavement pavement 1,00 0,98 0,98 0,95 0,95 0,95 0,98 0,95

Layer of the embankment or wet zone type Active zone Wet zone type I Wet zone type II and III

Comments: Hp thickness of the pavement structure, m. Subgrade of the embankment in low fill, in 0-profile or in cut has to be compacted until the compaction coefficient values presented in the first row of the table. Wet zone type description is provided in the Highway Design Norms

Soil Compaction Requirements

There does not exist any requirements to the E-modulus values determined with INSPECTOR or LOADMAN equipment on top of the compacted layer which can be compared with the value of density or compaction coefficient of that layer. As result of this the designer can not specify any appropriate justified E-modulus values for INSPECTOR or LOADMAN in the design project. INSPECTOR and LOADMAN measurement results are not directly the values of the compaction coefficient (Kc). It is possible to calculate the compaction factor (T) based on the Emodulus values measured by the INSPECTOR or LOADMAN on the top of the compacted layer.

Soil Compaction Requirements

Usually at least 8 parallel E-modulus measurements are performed at the same spot with INSPECTOR or LOADMAN and based on those results the compaction factor (T) can be calculated: T = ((E6+E7+E8)/3)/E2 = (E6+E7+E8)/(3 E2), where: E2, E6, E7, E8 E-modulus measurement results with INSPECTOR or LOADMAN on the top of compacted layer, accordingly 2nd, 6th, 7th and 8th measured value at the same spot, MPa.

The correlation between the compaction coefficient (Kc) and the compaction factor (T) determined with INSPECTOR or LOADMAN has not been determined.

Scope of the Research

Current research covers experimental determination of the change of granular sandy soils (4 types) density during compaction. Measurements were performed with INSPECTOR and LOADMAN devices and recording the measured E-modulus values. Based on those compaction factors (T) were calculated. Parallel to the INSPECTOR and LOADMAN measurements the BELDORNII penetrometer and core testing (with cutting ring) were used for determination of the compaction coefficients (Kc) of same soils at the same stage of compaction. The main objective of the research project was to find the correlation between the compaction coefficients (Kc) and compaction factors (T).

Main Results of the Research (1)

Compaction coefficient values (Kc) determined with the core test and penetrometer test are almost equal (Fig.). The compaction coefficient determined with the core test is about 1,2 % higher than the compaction coefficient determined with the penetrometer.
1,2 Compaction coefficient determined with core test 1 0,8 0,6 0,4 0,2 0 0,82 y = 1,012x R2 = 0,5622 y = 0,9484x + 0,0602 R2 = 0,5647

0,84

0,86

0,88

0,9

0,92

0,94

0,96

0,98

1,02

Com paction coefficient determ ined w ith penetrom eter

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Main Results of the Research (2)

E-modulus values determined on the top of compacted layer with INSPECTOR are about 12 % smaller than the same values determined with LOADMAN (Fig.).
100 90 E-modulus determined with INSPECTOR, MPa 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 E-m odulus determ ined w ith LOADMAN, MPa y = 0,8841x R2 = 0,7326 y = 0,72x + 12,069 R2 = 0,7758

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Main Results of the Research (3)

Relationship between the compaction factor values (T) of sandy soil calculated based on the INSPECTOR and LOADMAN measurement data and the compaction coefficient values (Kc):

Using INSPECTOR: Kc = -0,1264*TI+1,1449, - compaction coefficient; where: Kc - compaction factor determined on bases of TI INSPECTOR measurement data. Using LOADMAN: where: Kc TL Kc = -0,1537*TL+1,1712, - compaction coefficient; - compaction factor determined on bases of LOADMAN measurement data.

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Main Results of the Research (4)

The value of the compaction factor (T) equal to 2 which is taken over from Finnish requirements and indicating that the layer of a sandy soil has reached the required density, is not correct:

using LOADMAN the compaction factor value 2 equals to the compaction coefficient value 0,86 and using INSPECTOR the compaction factor value 2 equals to the compaction coefficient value 0,89.

Both compaction coefficient values are not satisfying the minimum required compaction coefficient value of embankment equal to 0,95.

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Main Results of the Research (5)

Using the determined relationships between the compaction coefficients (Kc) and compaction factors (T) the minimum allowable values of the compaction factors (T) can be determined:
Depth h from the pavement surface, m h< Hp + 0,5 Hp + 0,5 h < 1,5 h1,5 h1,5 Permanent pavement Light or transient pavement Minimum allowable values ComCompaction ComCompaction paction factor T paction factor T coefficoeffiLOAD- INSPE LOAD- INSPE cient cient MAN CTOR MAN CTOR Kc Kc 1,00 1,15 0,98 1,30 1,11 1,24 0,98 1,24 1,30 0,95 1,43 1,54 0,95 1,43 1,54 0,95 1,43 1,54 0,98 1,24 1,30 0,95 1,43 1,54

Layer of the embankment or wet zone type

Active zone

Wet zone type I Wet zone type II and III Comments: Hp thickness of the pavement structure, m. Subgrade of the embankment in low fill, in 0-profile or in cut has to be compacted until the compaction coefficient values presented in the first row of the table. Wet zone type description is provided in the Highway Design Norms

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THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!

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