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Compaction
Dr. Mohammed Al Aghbari

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What is compaction?
A simple ground improvement technique, where the soil
is densified through external compactive effort.

Compactive
effort

+ water =

Dry density (d)

Compaction Curve
Soil grains densely packed
- good strength and stiffness

- low permeability

d, max

optimum
water content

Water content

Compaction Curve

Dry density (d)

What happens to the relative quantities of the three phases

with addition of water?
air
water
soil

difficult to expel all air

lowest void ratio and

highest dry density at
optimum w

Water content

Dry density (d)

Zero Air Void Curve

- corresponds to 100% saturation
Zero air void curve (S=100%)

S<100%

Gs w
Eq : d
1 wGs

S>100% (impossible)
All compaction points should lie
to the left of ZAV curve

Water content

Dry density (d)

Effect of Compactive Effort

Increasing compactive
effort results in:

E2 (>E1)

Lower optimum water

content
Higher maximum dry
density

E1

Water content

more dispersed fabric

Dry density (d)

Compaction and Clay Fabric

Higher water content or higher
compactive effort gives more
dispersed fabric.

more dispersed fabric

Water content

Dry density (d)

Line of Optimum
Compaction curves
for different efforts

Line of optimum

Water content

Filed Compaction
Different types of rollers (clockwise
from right):
Smooth-wheel roller
Vibratory roller

Pneumatic rubber tired roller

Sheepsfoot roller

Field Compaction
Smooth Wheeled Roller

Compacts effectively only to 200-300 mm; therefore,

place the soil in shallow layers (lifts)

Field Compaction
Vibrating Plates

for compacting very small areas

effective for granular soils

Field Compaction
Sheepsfoot Roller

Provides kneading action; walks out after compaction

Very effective on clays

Field Compaction
Impact Roller

Provides deeper (2-3m) compaction. e.g., air field

Compaction Control
-a systematic exercise where you check
at regular intervals whether the
compaction was done to specifications.
e.g., 1 test per
1000 m3 of
compacted soil

Minimum dry density

Range of water content

Field measurements (of d) obtained using

sand cone
nuclear density meter

Laboratory Compaction 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

Compaction Control Test

Compaction
specifications

Compare!
w

d,field = ?
wfield = ?

compacted ground

17

Example:
The following data were recorded from a standard proctor compaction test. The
specific gravity of the soil grains is 2.70.
Required:
Plot the compaction curve and determine the optimum water content and maximum dry
density.
Plot the zero air void curve.
Determine the degree of saturation at the maximum dry density.
Calculate the water content necessary to completely saturate the sample at its maximum dry
density.
If it is proposed to achieve a relative compaction of 96% in the field, what is the range of
water content that would be allowed?

d
mass kg
wc

Gs w
d
wG s

1 w
1.767

1.928

2.013

2.079

10

13

2.041 1.975
16

19

18

mass kg

1.767

1.928

2.013

2.079

2.041

1.975

10

13

16

19

wc
Bulk density( b)

1869.84

2040.21

2130.16

2200.00

2159.79

2089.95

Dry density( d)

1780.80

1889.08

1936.51

1946.90

1861.89

1756.26

Dry density ZAV

2417.58

2254.10

2156.86

2025.78

1909.72

1806.24

19

1) Maximum dry density

Optimum water content =

Gs w
wGs

d max =

max

1950

Gs w
wG s

kg/m3
12 %

2) ZAV = See the graph

3) Degree of Saturation at max. dry density :

S=

0.804375

4) Water content for S=100% at max. dry density:

WC=

14.9

5) Range of water content at R.C % =

d field = R.C * d max =
From the graph the rang of water content = 8%----15%

96
1872

20

Dynamic Compaction
- pounding the ground by a heavy weight
Suitable for granular soils, land fills
and karst terrain with sink holes.

Pounder (Tamper)

solution 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

Dynamic Compaction

Vibroflotation
Suitable for granular soils
Practiced in several forms:

vibrocompaction

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)

Vibroflotation

Vibroflotation

Vibroflotation

Vibroflotation

Vibroflotation

Vibroflotation

Stone Columns

vibrator makes a
hole in the weak
ground

hole backfilled ..and compacted Densely compacted

stone column

Blasting
For densifying granular soils

Fireworks?

Aftermath of blasting

Earthmoving Equipment
David and Goliath?

Large Excavator (see minivan on left for scale)

Earthmoving Equipment

Grader for spreading soil

Earthmoving Equipment

Bulldozer for spreading soil evenly

Earthmoving Equipment

Loader

Earthmoving Equipment

Backhoe

Earthmoving Equipment

Crawler mounted Hydraulic Excavator

Earthmoving Equipment

Rock Breaker