Compaction

Compaction
Densification of soil by removing air from the voids
Consolidation
Densification of soil by removing water from the voids
Compaction
Is the most common method of improving soil properties
Increase shear strength
Decrease permeability
Change ductility

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 Cohesionless soils cannot be compacted by static pressure,

vibration is the only effective method
Cohesive soils are not susceptible to vibration, static
pressure is the method of compaction for cohesive soils and
kneading also works
Precompaction layer thickness is very important
Vibratory rollers can apply as much as 2-4 times their static
load
Tracked vehicles have very low contact pressure
Rubber tire vehicle contact pressure = tire pressure
Steel drum rollers achieve very high contact pressure
Sheeps foot rollers achieve kneading and high contact
pressure
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CE 274 Environmental Geotechnics

UC Berkeley

CE 274 Environmental Geotechnics

UC Berkeley

CE 274 Environmental Geotechnics

UC Berkeley

CE 274 Environmental Geotechnics

UC Berkeley

CE 274 Environmental Geotechnics

UC Berkeley

CE 274 Environmental Geotechnics

UC Berkeley

CE 274 Environmental Geotechnics

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Laboratory Compaction Test Specifications

Std. Proctor
ASTM D 698-64T

Modified AASHTO
(Proctor)
ASTM D 1557-64T

Hammer Weight,
lb.

5.5

10

Drop, in.

12

18

Mold Volume, ft3

1/30

1/30

Number of layers

Blows/layer

25

25

Size Fraction

- No.4

- No. 4

Compaction
Energy, ft-lb/ft3

12,400

56,300
5-9% greater
density

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Compaction Specification Relative Compaction

Relative Compaction
RC =

d ,max %

where d is the dry unit weight of the soil and d ,max is

the maximum dry unit weight achieved by a given compaction
method at a given water content
Gs w
Gs w
=
d =
w Gs
1+ e
1+
S
where S is saturation and S e = w Gs
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For each compactive effort

there is a d , max and wopt
Maximum saturation is on the
order of 95%
Optimums fall on a line parallel
to zero air voids line (100%
saturation) at about 80-85%
saturation

Source: Mitchell, J.K., Hooper, D.R., and Campanella, R.G. Permeability of

Compacted Clay, ASCE, J. of the Soil Mech. and Found. Div., July, 1965, pp.41-66.

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Compaction of Cohesive Soils

governed by particle shape and mineralogy
interaction with water is very important
structure of the compacted clay is very
important
dry of optimum - flocculated
wet of optimum - dispersed

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Source: Mitchell, J.K., Hooper, D.R., and Campanella, R.G. Permeability of

Compacted Clay, ASCE, J. of the Soil Mech. and Found. Div., July, 1965, pp.41-66.

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Source: Mitchell, J.K., Hooper, D.R., and Campanella, R.G. Permeability of

Compacted Clay, ASCE, J. of the Soil Mech. and Found. Div., July, 1965, pp.41-66.

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Source: Mitchell, J.K., Hooper, D.R., and Campanella, R.G. Permeability of

Compacted Clay, ASCE, J. of the Soil Mech. and Found. Div., July, 1965, pp.41-66.

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UC Berkeley

Source: Mitchell, J.K., Hooper, D.R., and Campanella, R.G. Permeability of

Compacted Clay, ASCE, J. of the Soil Mech. and Found. Div., July, 1965, pp.41-66.

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 Flocculated
higher peak strength
stiffer
sensitive to moisture
change
residual strength lower
than peak strength
higher K

Dispersed
more plastic, more
ductile/less brittle
more compressible
closer to residual
strength
lower K

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Sharma and Lewis 1994

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Sharma and Lewis 1994

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Compaction of Cohesionless Soils

Relative Compaction (Mod.
AASHTO)
Near limit ~ 98%
Achievable upper limit 9495%
Structural Fill 90-92%
Dry Dumped/No bulking
~88-91%
Moist Loose Dumped 8085%
Typical specs: 95% for no
liquefaction, 90-92% for
most structural fills

Relative Density

~90%
~60-80% (should take
care of liquefaction)

~0%
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Compaction Procedures and Specifications

Reasonable Compacted Lift Thickness
Cohesive Soils
6-9 in. for good compaction
12 in. for good compaction with very large rollers
18 in. for moderate compaction

Cohesionless Soils
6-12 in. with vibratory rollers
up to 24 in. with very large rollers
up to 5 ft. (1.5 m) for rockfill

Hand compaction - 6 in. Max., cohesive or cohesionless

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Compaction Procedures and Specifications (cont.)

Cohesive Soils

Control both density and water content

Make sure limits are achievable

cannot get beyond 95% saturation

96-97% Modified AASHTO is about the upper limit for
consistent results
price goes up for more than 93%, and >95% is not advisable
make sure that the water content range is achievable, 3% is
about the minimum range, +/- 2% is easy, 5% range is
congenial
always specify relative compaction and water content to
allow the numbers to float
type of compaction method may have to be specified,
sheepsfoot rollers give more ductile, dispersed, lower K
material, but take more passes - higher cost

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Compaction Procedures and Specifications (cont.)

Cohesionless Soils
the final structure is not a significant function of the water
content
bulking at low moisture contents can be broken by flooding, but
flooding can achieve only about 92% RC (max.) ~ 60% Dr
lowest level compaction spec. - prevent settlement, 90% Mod.
AASHTO
second level - increase strength and stiffness, 90-92% Mod.
AASHTO
third level - prevent liquefaction - RC >95%, Dr 70-75%
compaction >93% is more difficult and costly
compaction specs. for >96% are not advisable

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