Fundamentals of Geotechnical Engineering, 4th Edition Das

Chapter 3:
Soil
Compaction

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Definition

 Compaction means densification of an

unsaturated soil by a reduction in the volume
of voids filled with air, while the volume of
solids and the water content remain
essentially the same.

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Fundamentals of Geotechnical Engineering, 4th Edition Das

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Major aims of compacting soil

 Increase shear strength

 Reduce compressibility
 Reduce permeability
 Reduce liquefaction potential
 Control swelling and shrinking

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Fundamentals of Geotechnical Engineering, 4th Edition Das

Standard Proctor Method

(BS 1377: Part 4: 1990)

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 Standard Proctor Method
(BS 1377: Part 4: 1990)
 Weigh the empty mould (with the base but
without the collar)
 Break soil lumps and sieve the soil through a
No. 4 sieve
 Add the required amount of water to the soil
 Form a 50 to 75 mm layer of soil in the mould,
and gently press the soil to smooth its surface
 Compact the soil with 25 evenly distributed
full height blows of the hammer.

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 Standard Proctor Method
(BS 1377: Part 4: 1990)
 Repeat the procedure with a second and third layer. After
the compaction of the third layer, the surface of the soil
must be slightly above the top rim of the mould.
 Remove the collar and trim off the soil above the top of the
mould.
 Weigh the mould and the sample
 Remove the soil from the mould and obtain representative
samples for moisture content determinations.
 Break the removed soil from the mould, remix with the
original sample, and raise its water content by 2 – 3%.
 Keep repeating the compaction process until 5 runs have
been made.

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Fundamentals of Geotechnical Engineering, 4th Edition Das

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MODIFIED PROCTOR TEST
Detail Standard Proctor Modified Proctor

Mold Volume 1000 1000

Diameter, mm 105 105
Height, mm 115.5 115.5
Rammer diameter, mm 50 50
Drop, mm 300 450
Mass, kg 2.7 4.9
Numbers of layers 3 5
Blows per layer 25 25

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Soil Compaction in the Lab:

Hammer – 4.5 kg

Volume of the mold

Hammer – 2.5 kg = 943.3 cm3

Equipments for compaction test

Soil Compaction in the Lab:

1- Standard Proctor Test

2- Modified Proctor Test

2.5 kg 4.5 kg

457.2 mm
304.8 mm

Standard Proctor Test Modified Proctor Test

Fundamentals of Geotechnical Engineering, 4th Edition Das

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Fundamentals of Geotechnical Engineering, 4th Edition Das

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Zero Air Void Curve

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Zero Air Void Curve

 Determine specific gravity of soil solids

 Know the unit weight of water
 Assume several values of w such as 5%, 10%,
15% and so on.
 Use Eqn 6.4 to calculate zero air void unit
weight for various value of w.

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 Factors
Affecting
Compaction

Compaction
Soil Type
Effort

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Soil Type

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Effect of Compaction Effort

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FIELD COMPACTION

FIELD COMPACTION

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Smooth wheel roller

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Pneumatic rubber tired roller

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Sheepsfoot roller

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Factor affecting Field Compaction

FIELD COMPACTION
Soil type

Moisture content

Thickness

Pressure applied

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Relative Compaction

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Example

The maximum and minimum dry unit weight of

a sand were determined in the laboratory to be
18 kN/m3 and 16 kN/m3.
Estimate the relative compaction in the field if
the relative density is 75%.

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