FACTORS I N F L U E N C I N G COMPACTION OF SOILS

W.J. Turnbull^, S. J . Johnson2, and A . A . M a x w e l l S

INTRODUCTION large-scale compaction jobs. Factors

affecting compaction with sheepsfoot
and r u b b e r - t i r e d r o l l e r s are somewhat
The e f f e c t of m o i s t u r e content upon
d e n s i t y i n c o m p a c t i o n o f s o i l s as d e v - s i m i l a r b u t w i l l be d i s c u s s e d s e p a r a t -
e l o p e d by P r o c t o r has been w i d e l y r e c - ely because t h e r e are s o m e d i f f e r e n c e s .
ognized and studied in considerable de- A c o m p a r i s o n of the m e r i t s of s h e e p s -
tail. T h e m o i s t u r e c o n t e n t is of f u n d a - foot r o l l e r s versus r u b b e r - t i r e d c o m -
mental importance in s o i l compaction pactors i s b e y o n d the s c o p e o f t h i s
and is the m o s t i m p o r t a n t s i n g l e v a r i - p a p e r . Sheepsfoot r o l l e r s and r u b b e r -
a b l e i n v o l v e d . H o w e v e r , the i n f l u e n c e t i r e d r o l l e r s as u s e d f o r c o m p a c t i o n i n
of characteristics of the compacting l i f t c o n s t r u c t i o n w i l l be d i s c u s s e d f i r s t
e q u i p m e n t and c e r t a i n p r o p e r t i e s o f the a n d w i l l be f o l l o w e d b y a f e w r e m a r k s
s o i l l)eing c o m p a c t e d have not r e c e i v e d on s u b g r a d e c o m p a c t i o n ; t h a t i s , c o m -
adequate investigation o r attention in p a c t i n g f r o m the s u r f a c e o n l y .
literature. I t is d e s i r e d to d i s c u s s
these c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s briefly and to SHEEPSFOOT ROLLERS
point out what they a r e , in o r d e r that
a more complete understanding of f i e l d General
c o m p a c t i o n of s o i l s m a y be h a d . This
is t i m e l y , since these considerations T h e r e are widely divergent views on
a f f e c t the d e s i g n of c o m p a c t i n g e q u i p - the d e s i g n a n d p r o p e r use of s h e e p s f o o t
m e n t , and m a n u f a c t u r e r s are now d i s - rollers. T h i s f a c t i s e v i d e n c e d by the
p l a y i n g a g r e a t d e a l of i n t e r e s t i n t h i s g r e a t v a r i e t y of r o l l e r s b e i n g m a n u f a c -
in an e f f o r t to r e d u c e the n u m b e r o f t u r e d and the even g r e a t e r n u m b e r o f
types of r o l l e r s being used. specifications r e g a r d i n g Ihei r use. Some
s t a n d a r d i z a t i o n of b o t h r o l l e r s and s p e c i -
O b v i o u s l y , one of the f i r s t v a r i a b l e s
f i c a t i o n s has b e e n s u g g e s t e d m a n y t i m e s .
e n c o u n t e r e d i n c o m p a c t i o n w o r k on any
g i v e n s o i l i s the type of e q u i p m e n t . In M a n y v a r i a b l e s e n t e r i n t o the p r o c e s s
general, equipment c o m m o n l y used f o r of c o n i p a c t i o n by a s h e e p s f o o t r o l l e r .
c u r r e n t w o r k i s e i t h e r the s h e e p s f o o t T h e r o l l e r w e i g h t , a r e a s and shape of
r o l l e r o r r u b b e r - t i r e d wheel loads, with f e e t , f o o t s p a c i n g , and d r u m d i a m e t e r ,
the f o r m e r b e i n g the m o s t common. are a f e w of the m o r e o b v i o u s v a r i a b l e s
V i b r a t i o n r o l l e r s a r e s t i l l i n the e x - connected w i t h the r o l l e r i t s e l f . To
p e r i m e n t a l stage and w h i l e they p o s s e s s t h e s e m u s t be a d d e d the v a r i a b l e s i n -
definite potentialities they have not t r o d u c e d by the s o i l s w h i c h i n c l u d e the
d e m o n s t r a t e d as y e t any p r o n o u n c e d a d - type of s o i l , w a t e r content, i n i t i a l d e n -
vantage o v e r other types of r o l l e r s f o r s i t y , and p e r h a p s o t h e r s . In a d d i t i o n to
t h e s e , the c o m p a c t i o n o b t a i n e d i s a l s o
a f f e c t e d by the t h i c k n e s s of l i f t a n d n u m -
'Engineer, Chief, Soils Division, Waterways
b e r of p a s s e s of the r o l l e r . T h e f a c t t h a t
Experiment Station, Corps of Engineers,
c o m p a c t i o n by sheepsfoot r o l l e r s i s i n -
Vicksburg, Mississippi.
2Enginoer, C l i i e f , E m b a n k m e n t and F o u n d a - f l u e n c e d b y so g r e a t a n u m b e r o f . . T r i -
tion Branch, Soils Division, Waterways E x - a b l e s i s one r e a s o n f o r so m a n y d i f f e r -
p e r i m e n t S t a t i o n , C o r p s of E n g i n e e r s , V i c k s - ent opinions on this s u b j e c t .
tiurg, Mississippi. It would appear, considering how ex-
^Engineer, Embankment and Foundation
tensively sheepsfoot r o l l e r s are used,
Branch, Soils Division, Waterways Experi-
t h a t a c l e a r - c u t p i c t u r e c o u l d be o b -
m e n t S l i i t i o n , C o r p s of E n g i n e e r s , V i c k s b u r g ,
Mississippi.
t a i n e d of j u s t w h a t r o l l e r s h o u l d be u s e d
on any g i v e n s o i l to o l j t a i n a d e q u a t e c o m - c a p a c i t y of the s o i l f o r the e x i s t i n g c o n -
paction. Tlii.y is d i f f i c u l t , i f not i n i p o s - ditions. I n s o m e i n s t a n c e s the r o l l e r
s i l 3 l e . to d o . D u r i n g the l a s t t l i r e e y e a r s w i l l s i n k i n t o the g r o u n d u n t i l e v e n the
the a u t h o r s have had o c c a s i o n to e x a m - d r u m is c a r r y i n g a s u b s t a n t i a l l o a d . I t
ine data from numerous projects. In f o l l o w s , t h e r e f o r e , that t h e r e i s an u p -
the g r e a t m a j o r i t y of c a s e s , little or no p e r l i m i t to the c o n t a c t p r e s s u r e w h i c h
i n f o r m a t i o n c o u l d be o b t a i n e d t h a t would c a n be u s e d a n d t h a t t h i s u p p e r l i m i t w i l l
a s s i s t i n the e v a l u a t i o n of the variables vary with different soils.

affecting compaction. The difficulty lies T h e p r e c e d i n g t h o u g h t s c a n be i l l u s -

in tlie n u m b o ! ' of v a r i a b l e s and theinter- t r a t e d i i i s e v e r a l w a y s . One such i l l u s -
relaiionsl'.ip of tliese v a r i a b l c s . It was t r a t i o n is f u r n i s h e d by the w a l k i n g out
fi:)und that llie e f f e c t of any one vari- of a s h e e p s f o o t roller during normal
aiiie could not be isolated in dalagen- operation. When the f i r s t p a s s is m a d e
ei-aliy availaljle f r o m construction pro- on a f r e s h l y - p l a c e d l i f t the s o i l i s r a t h e r
j e c t s and f r o m m a n y test s e c t i o n s . Weli- l o o s e , the b e a r i n g c a p a c i t y i s t h e r e f o r e
pla;;ned and carefully controlled test low, and the p e n e t r a t i o n of the f e e t i s
relatively great. B e c a u s e of the l o w
sections are required to i s o l a t e the e f -
b e a r i n g c a p a c i t y , the f e e t w i l l p e n e t r a t e
fect of a single variable. Answers to
until a sufficient number come in con-
some questions can be found in exist-
tact w i t h the s o i l so t h a t the t o t a l r e a c -
ing dala. Some questions cannot be
tio.'i o f a l l f e e t i n c o n t a c t p l u s a n y l o a d
answered now, but at l e a s t , if this fact
c a r r i e d by the d r u m , i f i t is i n c o n t a c t
is recognized, s t e p s c a n be t a k e n t o f i l l
w i t h the s o i l , i s e q u a l to the w e i g h t o f
i n t h e ga|5s i n o u r data.
the r o l l e r . F i g u r e 1 s h o w s t h a i if the
f o u r f e e t of a s i n g l e r o w of the r o l l e r
Contact Pressure
shown penetrate their full length, a total
of 28 f e e t w i l l b e i n c o n t a c t w i t h t h e s o i l .
T h e w e i g h t of r o l l e r and n o m i n a l c o n -
H o w e v e r , not a l l of t h e s e f e e l a r e c a r r y -
t a c t p r e s s u r e a r e . of c o u r s e , d i r e c t l y
ing a l o a d when the r o l l e r is i n m o t i o n as
r e l a t e d f o r any g i v e n r o l l e r . The ef-
w i l l be d i s c u s s e d l a t e r . F o r t h i s c o n d i -
f e c t of contact p r e s s u r e is of g r e a t i m -
t i o n the p r e s s u r e s on the f e e l a r e c e r -
p o r t a n c e , f o r a f t e r a l l it is tlie e f f e c -
t a i n l y l e s s than the n o m i n a l c o n t a c t p r e s -
t i v e i n t e n s i t y of l o a d i n g w h i c h p r o d u c -
s u r e s w h i c h a r e c o m p u t e d by a s s u m i n g
es c o m p a c t i o n i n s o i l s . Effective i n -
that o n l y the f e e t i n one r o w a r e i n c o n -
t e n s i t y of l o a d i n g i s s o m e t h i n g t h a t is
t a c t . A s a d d i t i o n a l p a s s e s a r e m a d e , Ihe
d i f f i c u l t to c o m p u t e and i t m a y have l i t -
density, and consequently the b e a r i n g ,
tle r e s e m b l a n c e to the n o m i n a l c o n t a c t
c a p a c i t y of the s o i l , i n c r e a s e s and the
p r e s s u r e c o m | 3 u t e d by d i v i d i n g the t o -
p e n e t r a t i o n of t h e f e e l d e c r e a s e s . The
tal I ' o l l e r w e i g h t by the t o t a l a r e a of one
i n c r e a s e of b e a r i n g c a p a c i t y p e r m i t s t h e
row- of f e e t . The contact pressure
f e e t to w a l k o u t as the n u m b e r o f p a s s e s
s h o u l d be a s l a r g e as p o s s i b l e b u t c a n -
increases. W a l k i n g o u t " as used h e r e -
not I j e i n c r e a s e d i n d e f i n i t e l y , s i n c e t h e
in d o e s not m e a n t h a t the r o l l e r w a l k s
I j e a r i n g c a p a c i t y of a g i v e n s o i l l i m i t s
out c o m p l e t e l y as t h o u g h i t w e r e o p e r a -
the e f f e c t i v e c o n t a c t p r e s s u r e . Thus,
l i n g on a p a v e m e n t ; instead i t m e a n s
r e g a r d l e s s o f t h e a c t u a l w e i g h t o f Uie
that it w a l k s out so t h a t the f e e l a r e p e n -
sheepsfoot roller, the m a x i m u m u j i i t
e t r a t i n g s a y o n l y f r o m 25 l o 5 0 p e r c e n t
p r e s s u r e e x e r t e d b y t h e f e e l o n the s o i l
of t h e i r l e n g t h .
c a n n o t e.xceed a c e r t a i n m a . x i m u m v a l -
ue w l i i c h i s a f u n c t i o n o f the bearing I n s o m e s o i l s t h e d e n s i t y c a n be i n -
c a p a c i t y of the s o i l . T h i s m a x i m u m v a l - c r e a s e d , by a s u f f i c i e n t n u m b e r of p a s -
ue i s o b v i o u s l y d e p e n d e n t o n t h e t y p e o f s e s , l o a p o i n t s u c h t h a t the b e a r i n g c a p a -
s o i l , the m o i s t u r e c o n t e n t and density c i t y of the s o i l i s g r e a t e n o u g h to s u p -
a n d o t h e r f a c t o r s . If l o a d s a r e a p p l i e d p o r t the r o l l e r w i t h o n l y one r o w o f f e e l
w h i c h e x c e e d the be;i r i n g c a p a c i t y of Ihe in c o n t a c t w i t h the s o i l . In t h i s c a s e the
s o i l , the r o l l e r w i l l s i n k i n t o the s o i l r o l l e r has w a l k e d out c o m p l e t e l y and
u n t i l a s u f f i c i e n t n u m b e r of f e e t a r e in t h e u n i t f o o l p r e s s u r e s m a y a c t u a l l y be
c o n t a c t w i t h the s o i l l o r e d u c e the m a x - e q u a l l o the n o m i n a l f o o l p r e s s u r e s c o m -
i m u m c o n t a c t p r e s s u r e to the b e a r i n g p u t e d f o r the r o l l e r . A c t u a l l y , t h i s c o n -
 Figure 1. V a r i a l i o n of N u m b e r of F e e l i n C o n t a c t
w i t h D e p t h of P e n e t r a t i o n .
dition is r a r e l y , if ever, oljtained in
p r a c t i c e , f o r i n the c a s e of the r o l l e r
shown i n f i g u r e 1 a p e n e t r a t i o n of only
1/2 i n . w i l l b r i n g t h r e e r o w s o f f e e t i n
contact w i t h the s o i l .
Since many e n g i n e e r s are a c c u s t o m -
ed to thinic of l o a d s i n t e r m s of tons p e r
square foof instead of pounds p e r square
i n c h , i t m a y be a p p r o p r i a t e at t h i s t i m e
to p o i n t o u t t h a t c o n t a c t p r e s s u r e s of
250, 500 and 1000 p s i . are e q u a l , re-
s p e c t i v e l y , to c o n t a c t p r e s s u r e s o f 18,
3 6 , and 72 t o n s p e r s q u a r e f o o t . Wheji
the l o a d s on the f e e l a r e e x p r e s s e d i n
t h i s w a y i t c a n be s e e n t h a t m o d e r n ,
heavily-loaded r o l l e r s impose tremen-.'
dous l o a d i n g s on the s o i l . It is a p p a r -
ent that t h e s e l o a d i n g s c a n e x c e e d the
b e a r i n g c a p a c i t y of m a n y s o i l s . For
s o i l s developing most or a l l of t h e i r
s t r e n g t h t h r o u g h f r i c t i o n , the bearing
capacity d e c r e a s e s w i t h a d e c r e a s e in
s i z e of l o a d e d a r e a , so that a r e l a t i v e -
ly s m a l l v a r i a t i o n in s i z e of f o o t r e p r e -
sents a substantial v a r i a t i o n in bearing
capacity.
A n o t h e r i l l u s t r a t i o n of the e f f e c t of
the b e a r i n g c a p a c i t y u p o n c o m p a c t i o n i s
f u r n i s h e d by the f o l l o w i n g e x p e r i e n c e .
I n c o m p a c t i n g a s u b g r a d e c o n s i s t i n g of a
l e a n c l a y a n d c l a y e y s i l t , of l o w b e a r i n g
s t r e n g t h , i t was f o u n d tliat 50 p a s s e s o f
a r o l l e r loaded to about 600 p s i . n o m i n -
a l c o n t a c t p r e s s u r e d i d not g i v e the d e -
s i r e d d e n s i t y , but w h e n the r o l l e r was
u n l o a d e d t o a b o u t 4 0 0 p s i . f r o m 14 t o 2 0
a d d i t i o n a l p a s s e s g a v e m o r e than the r e -
quired density. E v i d e n t l y the h e a v i e r -
loaded r o l l e r was continuously shearing
the s o i l , b u t the l i g h t e r w e i g h t p e r m i t -
ted e f f e c t i v e c o m p a c t i o n so that the e f -
fective contact j j r e s s u r e was greater
than w l i e n the r o l l e r w a s l o a d e d to a
g r e a t e r n o m i n a l u n i t w e i g h t . 11 i s e n -
t i r e l y possible that even better results
w o u l d have been o b t a i n e d i f , i n s t e a d of
r e d u c i n g the t o t a l r o l l e r w e i g h t , the a r e a
of t h e f e e t h a d b e e n i n c r e a s e d t o t h e
p o i n t w h e r e the b e a r i n g c a p a c i t y of the
s o i l would not have been exceeded. By
u s i n g the h e a v i e r r o l l e r w i t h l a r g e r f e e t
the a r e a of s o i l b e i n g c o m p a c t e d by eacli
p a s s of the r o l l e r w o u l d h a v e been i n -
c r e a s e d so tliat the s a m e c o m p a c t i o n
m i g h t have been achieved w i t h f e w e r
passes.
A n o t h e r i l l u s t r a t i o n of the d e c i s i v e
. e f f e c t of b e a r i n g c a p a c i t y upon c o m p a c -
t i o n w a s f u r n i s l i e d b y one c o m p a c t i o n
sludy4 with which the a u t h o r s were
associated. In this sludy it was found
that f o r a s i l l y c l a y and a c l a y sand,
which had low to medium bearing
s t r e n g t h s , a v a r i a t i o n in n o m i n a l r o l -
l e r c o n t a c t p r e s s u r e s h a d p r a c t i c a l l y no
e f f e c t upon the d e n s i t i e s o b t a i n e d f o r the
n u m b e r of p a s s e s used and under the
test conditions e x i s t i n g . In these tests
''"Field C o m p a c t i o n T e s t s " by W . .1. T u i i i -
bull and Gayle McFaddeji, paper LX-b-15,
Vol. 5 , P r o c . o f 2iid I n l . C o i i f . on S o i l M e c h -
a n i c s and F o u n d a t i o n E n g i n e e r i n g , J u n e 1948,
 a field water content-density curve was
a c t u a l l y d e v e l o p e d e l i m i n a t i n g the p o s -
sibiUt>' t h a t the w a t e r c o n t e n t w a s the
u M a v o r a b l e f a c t o r . T h e r e a s o n t h a t the
same densities were obtained with v a r i -
ous n o m i n a l p r e s s u r e s is due to the ( a c t
t h a t the b e a r i n g c a p a c i t y o f t h e s o i l w a s
exceeded in a l l c a s e s so that a c t u a l l y
the n o m i n a l p r e s s u r e s w e r e n o t o b t a i n e d
but I n s t e a d the e f f e c t i v e p r e s s u r e s w e r e
p r a c t i c a l l y the s a m e i n a l l c a s e s a n d
e q u a l to the b e a r i n g c a p a c i t y of the s o i l .
T h e c o n t a c t p r e s s u r e of the f e e t i s ,
t h e r e f o r e , a n i m p o r t a n t f a c t o r in t h e
p e r f o r m a n c e of a s h e e p s f o o t r o l l e r . I t
is r e a d i l y a p p a r e n t t h a l a d j u s t i n g the end
a r e a o f the f e e t is a c o n v e n i e n t m e a n s o f
varying the c o n t a c t p r e s s u r e of the
s h e e p s f o o t r o l l e r to s u i t the type of s o i l
being compacted. I t is believed that
f o o t a r e a s u p t o 12 o r 16 s q . i n . a n d e v e n
u p t o 25 s q . i n . o r m o r e o f f e r a p r o f i t -
a b l e s o u r c e o f i n v e s t i g a t i o n , s i n c e by i n -
c r e a s i n g the c o n t a c t a r e a of the c o n t a c t
p r e s s u r e is d e c r e a s e d to a value ap-
p r o a c h i n g the b e a r i n g c a p a c i t y of the
s o i l b u t the t o t a l w e i g h t c a u s i n g c o m -
paction is not changed. I t i s highly d e -
s i r a b l e t h a t the t o t a l w e i g h t o f the r o l -
l e r b e as g r e a t a s p o s s i b l e b u t t h a t Uie
c o n t a c t a r e a be a d j u s t e d to the b e a r i n g
c a p a c i t y of the s o i l .
When a sheepsfoot r o l l e r is operating
e f f i c i e n t l y i t t e n d s to w a l k o u t w i t h an
i n c r e a s i n g n u m b e r of p a s s e s . T h e r e a r e
instances i n w h i c h this d i d not happen
when large heavy r o l l e r s having high
nominal foot pressures were used. In
these cases s a t i s f a c t o r y r e s u l t s were
o b t a i n e d d e s p i t e the f a i l u r e to w a l k o u t .
T h i s i s not d i f f i c u l t to e x p l a i n , s i n c e the
roller penetrated until aji equivalent
d r u m - r o l l e r e f f e c t was obtained which
w a s i n i t s e l f heavy enough to cause g o o d
compaction. However, compaction under
these c o n d i t i o n s i s v e r y i n e f f i c i e n t as
c o m p a r e d to t h a t w h e n the r o l l e r w a l k s
out.
Lengtl) of foot
T h e b a s i c r e q u i r e m e n t f o r the l e n g t h
of f o o t i s t h a t i t be a t l e a s t as l o n g as
the t h i c k n e s s of l i f t b e i n g c o m p a c t e d .
T h e l e n g t h of f o o t does have c o n s i d e r -
able e f f e c t upon r o l l e r c o n s t r u c t i o n and
operation. E x p e r i e n c e s h o w s that as
the f o o t l e n g t h i s i n c r e a s e d c a r e f u l a t -
t e n t i o n m u s t be g i v e n to the d e s i g n o f
the f o o t so t h a t i t c a j i r e s i s t the l a r g e r
s t r e s s e s , e s p e c i a l l y i n t r u r m n g the r o l -
ler. Another effect of foot length is i n
d e t e r m i n i n g the l e n g t h of d r u m r e q u i r e d
to m a i n t a i n t h e s t a b i l i t y o f the r o l l e r . A s
the l e n g t h o f f o o t i s i n c r e a s e d the r o l -
ler becomes increasingly more diffi-
c u l t to t o w . C o n s e q u e n t l y , the l o n g e r the
f e e t the l o n g e r m u s t the d r u m be a n d
the l a r g e r d i a m e t e r m u s t i t h a v e . Ex-
perience with two heavy sheepsfoot r o l -
lers of d i f f e r e n t design, each with 18-
i n . legs and capable of e x e r t i n g u p w a r d s
of 1000 p s i . n o m i n a l p r e s s u r e , d e m o n -
strated that great d i f f i c u l t y existed ia
t u r n i n g the r o l l e r w h e n t o w i t i g w i t h one
of the common larger crawler-type
t r a c t o r s . L o n g e r feet m a y have a place
i n the c o m p a c t i o n o f t h i c k e r l i f t s b u t
t h e r e a r e l i t t l e o r no data a v a i l a b l e o n
this interesting p o s s i b i l i t y .
Thickness of l i f t
T h i c k n e s s of l i f t is of r e l a t i v e l y g r e a t
i m p o r t a n c e . Some engineers and c o n -
t r a c t o r s c o n s i d e r U i i c k n e s s o f l i f t to be
a factor which should receive m o r e con-
sideration because of substantial bene-
f i t s w h i c h m a y r e s u l t f r o m the use of
thicker l i f t s . M a n y c o n t r a c t o r s are i n
f a v o r of 1 2 - i n . l i f t s and t h i s p o s e s a
challenge f o r the e n g i n e e r w h i c h he
should not i g n o r e . I t m e a n s that, i f a
s a t i s f a c t o r y means of c o m p a c t i o n can
be f o u n d f o r these t h i c k e r l i f t s , i m p o r -
tant savings w i l l r e s u l t . D e f i n i t e r e c o m -
m e n d a t i o n s cannot be p r e s e n t e d at this
t i m e but i t i s hoped they c a n be i n the
f u t u r e and Uial t h i s p o s s i b i l i t y w i l l be
considered by those concerned w i t h c o m -
paction of s o i l s .
Shape of f o o t
T h e f e e t of sheepsfoot r o l l e r s are
manufactured i n many shapes. T h i s is
t r u e b o t h f o r tlie f a c e o f Uie f o o t a n d f o r
the f o o t s h a n k . T h e r e m a y b e s o m e a d -
vantage to a p a r t i c u l a r shaped f o o t o r
foot shank wiUi respect to ease of c l e a n -
i n g , r a t e of w e a r , e t c . , but these f a c -
t o r s a r e b e y o n d the s c o p e of t h i s p a p e r .
I t i s d e s i r e d to p o i n t out the l a c k o f data
by w h i c h t h e e f f i c i e n c y o f d i f f e r e n t s h a p -
ed f e e t i n c o m p a c t i n g s o i l c a n be c o m -
pared. 11 i s t r u e t h a t d a t a a r e a v a i l -
able f r o m p r o j e c t s on w h i c h v a r i o u s
shaped f e e t w e r e u s e d but the e f f e c t of
the s h a p e of the f o o t c a n n o t be i s o l a t e d
b e c a u s e o t h e r f a c t o r s s u c h as r o l l e r
w e i g h t , p r e s s u r e i n t e n s i t y and type of
s o i l w e r e not c o n s t a n t .
Spacing of feet
In c o m p a r i n g s h e e p s f o o t r o l l e r s , the
e f f e c t of the n u m b e r of f e e l on tlie d r u m
is o f t e n i g n o r e d . T l i e u s u a l m e t h o d of
e-xpressing this d i f f e r e n c e is d r u m a r e a
per lamping foot. A somewhat better
m e t h o d of c o m p u t i n g o r c o m p a r i n g f o o l
s p a c i n g i s to e x p r e s s the s p a c i n g of tlie
f e e l as p e r c e n t c o v e r a g e ; t h a t i s , c o m -
p u t i n g the r a t i o of the t o t a l f o o l a r e a to
tlie a r e a of an i m a g i n a r y d r u m w i t h a
d i a m e t e r e q u a l to the d i s t a n c e b e t w e e n
the e x t r e m i t i e s of d i a m e t r i c a l l y o p p o s e d
f e e t on the a c t u a l d r u m . When t h i s is
done i t is seen tlial a v a r i a t i o n in the
n u m b e r of f e e t r e s u l t s i n a v e r y c o n s i d -
e r a b l e d i f f e r e n c e in the a c t u a l g r o u n d
c o n t a c t e d by the r o l l e r . I t is a p p a r e n t
if t h e p r e c e d i n g c o m p u t i t l i o n s a r e m a d e
that the f o o t c o n t a c t a r e a is s m a l l c o m -
p a r e d to the t o t a l g r o u n d a r e a c o v e r e d
by the r o l l e r . F o r the r o l l e r s h o w n i n
f i g u r e 1 the p e r c e n t c o v e r a g e is only
5.2.
D i s t r i b u t i o n of r o l l e r w e i g h t
It is p e r t i n e n t i n d i s c u s s i n g the loads
e x e r t e d by s h e e p s f o o t r o l l e r s on the s o i l
to c o n s i d e r t h e d i s t r i b u t i o n o f t h e t o t a l
r o l l e r w e i g h t a m o n g the f e e t p e n e t r a t i n g
the s o i l . W h e n m o r e than one r o w of
f e e t is i n c o n t a c t w i t h the s o i l , the p r e s -
s u r e s on the f e e t a r e not k n o w n . There
w i l l b e no p r e s s u r e o n t h e f e e t t o t h e
r e a r of the a x l e w h e n the r o l l e r i s i n
m o t i o n , as those f e e t a r e b e i n g w i t h -
d r a w n f r o m the s o i l . T h i s , of c o u r s e ,
n e g l e c t s any r e b o u n d of the s o i l u n d e r a
f o o t as tlie l o a d i s r e m o v e d . A l s o , the
row of feet j u s t c o m i n g in c o n t a c t w i t h
t h e s o i l w i l l c a r r y l i t t l e o r no l o a d , a s
the s u r f a c e s o i l is g e n e r a l l y q u i t e loose
and the b e a r i n g c a p a c i t y i s e x t r e m e l y
low. The r o l l e r i s , in effect, always
going " u p h i l l " and i t is l i k e l y that the
f e e l f o r w a r d of the a x l e c a r r y a c o m -
p o n e n t of tlie h o r i z o n t a l f o r c e r e q u i r e d
to p u l l t h e r o l l e r . However, it is p r o -
b a b l e t h a t Uie l o a d w i l l b e c a r r i e d o n a t
least t h r e e o r f o u r r o w s of f e e t w h e n one
row o f f e e l is p e n e t r a t i n g the f u l l l e n g t h ,
and the a c t u a l f o o t p r e s s u r e s m a y be
r o u g h l y o n e - t h i r d o r o n e - q u a r t e r of the
nominal pressures.
E f f e c t of passes
T h e n u m b e r of p a s s e s has a c o n s i d -
e r a b l e e f f e c t on the s o i l d e n s i t y o b t a i n e d
aiid has r e c e i v e d a m o d e r a t e a m o u n t of
aUention. I t is v e r y often found that
the r e l a t i o n s h i p between d e n s i t y and
n u m b e r of p a s s e s i s a s t r a i g h t l i n e w h e n
the d e n s i t y i s p l o t t e d to an a r i t h m e t i c
s c a l e and the n u m b e r of p a s s e s to a
l o g a r i t h m i c s c a l e as s h o w n o n f i g u r e
2. It is i n t e r e s t i n g that this r e l a t i o n -
ship is generally obtained both f o r c o m -
p a c t i o n i n l a b o r a t o r y m o l d s aiid f o r f i e l d
c o m p a c t i o n p r o v i d e d the w a t e r c o n t e n t
is not v e r y m u c h w e t of o p t i m u m i n each
c a s e . I t is a p p a r e n t that a p o i n t of d i m -
inishing r e t u r n is reached al which a
l a r g e n u m b e r of p a s s e s m u s t be m a d e
to a c h i e v e a r e l a t i v e l y s m a l l i n c r e a s e
in d e n s i t y . T h e n u m b e r of p a s s e s of a
r o l l e r r e q u i r e d to d e v e l o p a c e r t a i n d e n -
sity depends, among other f a c t o r s , on
tlie p e r c e n t c o v e r a g e as d e f i n e d i n a
previous paragraph. The percent cov-
e r a g e f o r one p a s s of the r o l l e r s h o w n
on f i g u r e 1 i s 5 . 2 . O b v i o u s l y , t h e t o t a l
a r e a of s o i l a c t u a l l y c o n t a c t e d by the f e e t
i n c r e a s e s w i t l i the n u m b e r of p a s s e s a n d ,
a s s u m i i i g that the f e e t n e v e r c o n t a c t the
s a m e a r e a t w i c e , the i n c r e a s e i n c o v -
e r a g e w i l l be i n d i r e c t p r o p o r t i o n to the
n u m b e r of p a s s e s . T h i s , of c o u r s e , is
the i d e a l c a s e and does not n e c e s s a r i l y
o c c u r i n p r a c t i c e . W h a t e v e r the e x a c t
r e l a t i o n s h i p m a y b e , an i n c r e a s e i n p a r -
c e n t c o v e r a g e i s o b t a i n e d by an i n c r e a s e
in the n u m b e r of p a s s e s . If a c e r t a i n
n u m b e r of p a s s e s is r e q u i r e d to o b t a i n
a g i v e n d e n s i t y i t c a n a l s o be s a i d t h a t
a c e r t a i n percent coverage is r e q u i r e d
to o b t a i n t h i s d e n s i t y . I f the percent
c o v e r a g e o b t a i n e d by one p a s s of a r o l -
ler is i n c r e a s e d by i n c r e a s i n g the f o o t
 COMPACTED AT A WATER
BLOV/S PER LAfE =
i M U u i r 2. I"<.'l;ui(>iiship of C o m i i a c l l v o IL'ffijri
v.s D i y D t - n s i l y .
a r i - a . i i i s appa r c n i thai thi- U i i a l c u v -
erai;c- ri-quirc-ci w i l l b^- (iljtaini.'d w i i h a
s;iial!<,-i' n u i n b i ' i ' n[ p a s s e s . In thi' l a i -
l.'.-r c a s e U v wc-ighl of Uu- lailk-i' w o u l d ,
of c i i u r s ' j , hav.- i n b e i i i c I ' . j a s u d S D t h a i
l i v saiiiij c'liuricl p n . - s s u n - wjllh.^ m a i n -
l a iii'j'l .
T i l e ahd'.'i- thiiuL;iil b r i n g s nut an m -
t ' j r . j s i i i i u , p i i s s i b i l i l y . !-"'(ir c x a n i p l i : , If
Ui'.- |>; r c - n l cDVij i-a!;i of ihi- : ' i ) l l . j r s h o w n
nil fi!j;ur<- 1 w.-i'i; iiK; T ' - a S r i i t w u f o k i (by
(ji lu'ul i ng l ! i i - f i . j D i a r o a ) f r o m 5 . 2 t o l O . - l ,
and l l i e saii\(- c u n l a c l p r i - s s u r i - niaiii-
l a m o c l , wiiuld ;h<j s.anuj t l e n s i l i e s \>ij o l j -
lam'.:<l i I I i M h : - t r a i t U i i ' n i i m l i i : I' uf | ) a s s i - s
Tin- j i ' j r c c n l c n v c r a g e i i L - r p a s s can also
h'; i i i r r i j a s i c i by i nc [asin); the n v m i b f r
of f i . i ; l , l)ul l l i i s iin.-thod h a s p r a i : l i r a l
I i 111 i t a t i o i i s civic t o U i e (ti f f icvi l l y (if p r o p e r
cl'-.aninj;. I l i s b e l i e v e d l l i a l l!ie' j i o s -
s i l i i l i l y of o b t a i n i n g ade'ciuale d i . - n s i l i e s
W i l l i f e w e r p a s s e s liy the use- of r o l l e r s
l i a v i n g a h i g h e r ii^rreenil c o v e r a g e - pe-r
pa.ss i s w e l l w o r l l i i i i v e - s l i g a l i o n .
In ihe |)re(;ed-iin; p a r a ) ; r a p l i i l w a s
p o i n t e d out Uial Ihe-pe-rcenl (;ontac;l c o v -
e-rage of a s h e - e p s f o o l r o l l e - r w a s q u i t e
small. A i-olle-r w i t h , s a y , a pe-rcent
c o v e r a g e of 5 wovild r e q u i r e - 20 p a s s e - s
to c o n t a c t 100 p e i ' c e n i of t h e g r o u n d a r e a
a s s t i m i n t ; the tee-t ilid n u t s t r i k e ' t w i c e i n
the s a n i i ; p l a c e . It i s , h o w e v e r , we-ll
e-sl-.iblished l l i a l ader,|uale d e n s i t i e s a r e
u s u : i l l y obtaiiK.-d with a consider.-ibly
s m a l l e r n u m b e i ' of p a s s e s t h a n 2 0 . T l i i s
CONTENT OF 8 PERCENT
NUMBER OF PASSES
1 I K i . i j (i),MP..\(;-n(j.-,-
1I'--..\\.'Y KPSldOT KIJIJ.KH
f a c t i s u n d o u b t e d l y due to the s i J r e a d of
p r e s s u r e with i n c r e a s i n g depth b e l o w
the e n d of llie f e e t . T h u s , on a p l a n e
p a r a l l e l tc) t h e g r o u n d s u r f a c e a n d s e v -
t - r a l i n c h e s b e l o w Ihe end of tlic f o o l ,
t h e a r e a of s o i l s u b j e - c l e d to p r e s s u r e
i s m u c h gri.'a.ter than the f o o l a r e a , and
consi-cjue-ntly the p e r c e n t c o v e r ; \ g e is
(a)r n - s p o n d i ugly g r e a l e r . T h e unit p r o s -
s u r e - a l t h i s ile|.Uh i s . of c e i u r s c , s m a l l e r
t h a n th:it obtaini.'d o n the- f a c e of the fi.iot.
T h u s Ihe e f f e c t i v e c i . i m p a c l i n g | ) r c s s u r o
of a s l u ; e | ) s f o o t r o l l e r i s jirob'.ibly m ; i t -
e r i a l l y l e s s than the n o m i n a l c o n t a c t
jHe'SSure. It i s b e l i e v e d t h e r e f o r e that
tile- above' reasoning (.'X|)lains why a
slieo|)sfoi)l r o l l e r with r e l a t i v e l y s m a l l
contacl coverage p e r pass w i l l jjroduce
densi;i..-s c o m p a r a l i l c to r u b b e r - t i rei-1
r o l l e r s a l about the s a i r . e n u r i i b e r of
passes (;ven tliough the l a t t e r h a s 100
jiercenl contact per p a s s .
Kolliiig radius
In s t u d y i n g the b e h a v i o r of s h c e p s -
foot r o l l e r s , an a l l e m p i w a s m a d e to
an;ily'/,e the m o t i o n of the f e e t a s they
pe-net r a t e d .and then withdre'w f r o m t h e
soil. If the r o l l e r w e r e o i J e r a t i n g on
c o n c r e t e i t w o u l d be e x p e c t e d t h a t t h e
r ( j l l i i i g r a d i u s w o u l d be t h e d i s t a n c e f r o m
the- ; L x i s of the r o l l e r lo the e n d of t h e
f e e t , and if the r o l l e r p e n e l r a U . ' d the
s o i l the r o l l i n g r a d i u s w o u l d be l e s s .
 PATH OF END OF FOOT

-DRUM -PATH OF FOOT AT DRUM

-GROUND SURFACE

F i g u r e 3. L o c u s of One F o o l of a T y p i c a l
Sheepsfoot R o l l e r .

PATH OF END OF FOOT

1
PATH OF FOOT AT DRUM

GROUND SURFACE

F i g u r e 4. L o c u s o f O n e F o o t of a T y p i c a l S h e e p s f o o t
Roller. ( R o l l i n g r a d i u s 38 i n c h e s )

F i g u r e s 3 and 4 show the path f o l l o w e d i n g m a y be c a u s e d by the b r a k i n g a c t i o n

by the end of a f o o l f o r the condition of the c l e a n e r s , r e s i s t a n c e of the s o i l
w h e n the r o l l i n g r a d i u s w a s e q u a l l o lo w i t h d r a w a l of the f e e l , o r lo o t h e r
the d i s t a n c e s i n d i c a t e d . The rolling possible f a c t o r s . This feature of r o l -
r a d i u s w a s d e t e r m i n e d i n the f i e l d i n l e r b e h a v i o r is c i t e d p r i m a r i l y lo i l -
two instances and in both cases was lustrate roller action. The rolling r a d -
m o r e than tlie d r u m r a d i u s p l u s the f o o l i u s i s i m p o r t a n t i n the c a s e of t o w i n g a
length, and s h o w e d a tendency to i n - r o l l e r and in its m a n e u v e r a b i l i t y . I I is
c r e a s e w i t h an i n c r e a s e d number of known, f o r e x a m p l e , that a s m a l l - d i a -
p a s s e s . T h i s i n d i c a t e s that the r o l l e r m e t e r r o l l e r p u l l s m u c h h a r d e r ajid is
was s l i d i n g f o r w a r d s l i g h t l y . Such s l i d - h a r d e r lo turn than a l a r g e r d i a m e t e r
 r o l l e r of ihc s a m e w e i g h t .
ditioiis. There is a decided tendency on
the part of manufacturers to ask f o r a
Field O p t i m u m water content u n i f o r m specification f o r sheepsfoot rol-
lers. Evidently the e f f e c t of the fac-
AUention is invited to t w o w e l l - k n o w n tors mentioned above must be consid-
c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s of l a b o r a t o r y compac- ered aiid in such roller specifications
tion: p r o v i s i o n m u s t be m a d e so t h a t t h e i m -
(1) For a given compaclive effort, p o r t a n t ones c a n be m o d i f i e d on a j o b to
a water content-density curve is dev- suit soil conditions. For example, it
eloped having a |30int o f m ; L x i m u m den- is desirable to use the heaviest roller
sity. The water c o n t e n t at this density available, but the roller must not i m -
is, of c o u r s e , the w e l l - k n o w n optimum p o s e h e a v i e r u n i t l o a d s than the S o i l can
water content. c a r r y ; o t l i e r w i s e it w i l l not p e r f o r m any
(2) A s the c o m | ) a c l i v e effoi-t is i n - better than a l i g h t e r r o l l e r and will be
c r e a s e d the o p t i m u m w a t e r c o n t e n t d e - m o r e d i f f i c u l t to l o w . It should, there-
creases. fore, be possible for the engineer lo
Data are available from carefully con- r e q u i r e an adjustment in contact pres-
s t r u c t e d f i e l d test f i l l s w h i c h substantiate sures when using a given roller, if it
tlie p r e v i o u s l y d e l e i ' m i n e d ^ but some- is apparent that the b e a r i n g capacity of
Umes neglected fact tlial a water con- llie s o i l is b e i n g e x c e e d e d . Only if this
t e n t - d e n s i t y c u r v e h a v i n g a p o i n t o f m.'Lx- is t r i e d a n d the r o l l e r is f o u n d to be still
imuni density is also obtained by f i e l d too heavy should llie total w e i g h t of the
comijaction. The water content at this r o l l e r be decreased.
m a x i m u m ' d e n s i t y m i g h t be t e r m e d "field
It i s urged, therefore, that all per-
optimuiii water content,''
tinent factors be c o n s i d e r e d when pro-
lo spite of the f a c t that s u f f i c i e n t , r e - posing a standardization of roller spe-
l i a b l e t e s t d a t a a r e not a v a i l a b l e l o r e a l l y cifications, f o r there are many factors
e s t a b l i s h a c o m p l e t e f a m i l y of c u r v e s for e n t e r i n g into c o m p a c t i o n w h i c h a r e still
c o m p a c t i o n by v a r i o u s field conipaction only partially understood. In a d d i t i o n ,
efforts, there is little doubt that field it is suggested that engineers be alert
optimum watei" content decreases with to o b s e r v e the b e h a v i o r of the r o l l e r and
increasing conipaclive effort in a manner a d j u s t the c o n t a c t p r e s s u r e to observed
similai- to t h a t o c c u r r i n g in laboratory soil conditions. I I is b e l i e v e d that f i r s t
compaction procedures. priority should be g i v e n l o v a r y i n g the
area of the feet rather than the total
Summary w e i g h t of tlie I'oller.

The precediiig factors wliich have RUBBER-TIRED ROLLERS

been discussed are believed t o be the
principal ones affecting compaction of General
soils by sheepsfoot rollers. The pos-
sible e f f e c t of tliese variables should The variables present in compaction
a l w a y s be b o r n e in mind when comp.ar- of soils in l i f t s Willi r u b b e r - t i r e d rol-
ing c o m i j a c t i o n by different sheepsfoot l e r s i n c l u d e the a r e a of c o n t a c t , contact
rollers, and it is believed that these pressure, number of coverages, and
variables indicate, in a c c o r d a n c e with thickness of lift. There are obviously
actual results in the f i e l d , that it is not several differences in compaction of
i-easonable to expect one roller l o be s o i l s by r u b b e r - i i r e d and s h e e p s f o o t rol-
satisfactory for all soils and s o i l con- lers. When a rubber-tired roller com-
pacts a given area, every square inch
^H. R , P r o c i u i - . "On ilic D t s i p n and C u n - of Uiat a r e a has b e e n i n c o n t a c t w i t h tlie
s i r u c i K i M ni RollftI i- ilU't) Dani.s," EntrinetT- tires, whereas when a sheepsfoot rol-
ins iv'cws Kt'CiH-c!, 7 S f j ) ! . 1933. l e r p a s s e s o v e r an a r e a o n l y a s m a l l por-
r . H . P V.illi,un.s, .N.iicsR.S ri'JS ami 1{N 963. tion of the g r o u n d surface is contacted
Di'pi. ill Scit'iuifu- .uid liulu.sirial lU'.sfarch.
by a fool. The w e i g h t of the rubber-
[iond Ht'Sfai'ch L . i i j n r a u i r y . LoiKiuii.
tired roller is, of course, equal to the
p r o d u c t of c o n t a c t a r e a and c o n t a c t p r e s -
s u r e , and is not t h e r e f o r e c o n s i d e r e d an
independent v a r i a b l e .
Contact Pressure
An i n c r e a s e of the contact area
m e a n s an i n c r e a s e o f the t o t a l w e i g h t
of a r o l l e r i f t h e i n f l a t i o n p r e s s u r e , a n d
hence the c o n t a c t p r e s s u r e , of the t i r e s
is u n c h a n g e d . C o n s e q u e n t l y , i f the t o t a l
w e i g h t i n c r e a s e s t h e r e w i l l be an i n -
c r e a s e in the a r e a being c o m p a c t e d but
tlie i n t e n s i t y of l o a d i n g i s c o n s t a n t . Be-
cause the contact p r e s s u r e is constant,
it is a p p a r e n t that the d e n s i t y m a y not
be a f f e c t e d b y an i n c r e a s e i n t o t a l w e i g h t
of the r o l l e r w h e n c o m p a c t i n g i n l i f t s .
f i g u r e 5, w h i c h s h o w s , f o r i l l u s t r a t i v e
purposes, p r e s s u r e d i s t r i b u t i o n based
on B o u s s i n e s q ' s e q u a t i o n , f o r v a r i o u s
s i z e s of r u b b e r - t i r e d l o a d s , i n d i c a t i n g
t h a t f o r the r e l a t i v e l y s h a l l o w depths to
consider In ordinary lift construction
(about 6 i n . ) , the p r e s s u r e i m p o s e d on
the s o i l b e i n g c o m p a c t e d i s p r a c t i c a l l y
independent of the a r e a of the l o a d .
T h u s , i f v a r i o u s w e i g h t s of r o l l e r s a r e
u s e d , each h a v i n g the same contact
p r e s s u r e , i t m a y be r e a s o n e d that v e r y
s i m i l a r c o m p a c t i o n s h o u l d be o b t a i n e d ,
and indeed this has been b o r n e out in
a c t u a l t e s t s ^ . I n c e r t a i n of these t e s t s
rubber-tired compactors varying in
total load p e r t i r e f r o m 10,000 to 40,000
pounds but h a v i n g the s a m e c o n t a c t p r e s -

LOADED SURFACE

NOTE: ACTUAL TIRE REPLACED

BY E Q U I V A L E N T CIRCLE.
S T R E S S E S SHOWN A R E
BENEATH C E N T E R OF TIRE.

K M WHEEL LOAD TIRE CONTACT

CLBS) AREA (so IN)

10,000
20,000
40,000

40 60 80 100
VERTICAL PRESSURE IN RSI

F i g u r e 5, P r e s s u r e Distribution Beneath Wheel Load

( C o n t a c t p r e s s u r e o f 65 p s i . )

A n e x c e p t i o n to the a b o v e o c c u r s w h e n s u r e gave p r a c t i c a l l y i d e n t i c a l results

compacting cohesionless s o i l s , f o r in
t h i s c a s e , even t h o u g h the c o n t a c t p r e s -
s u r e m a y be c o n s t a n t , the c o n f i n i n g e f -
f e c t of a l a r g e r a r e a b e c o m e s i m p o r t -
ant in g i v i n g b e t t e r c o m p a c t i o n .
G e n e r a l l y then w i t h 6 - i n . c o m p a c t e d
l i f t s , as a r e c o m m o n l y u s e d , any g i v e n
a r e a of s o i l w i l l be a f f e c t e d p r i n c i p a l l y
by ^le c o n t a c t p i x ' s s u r e i m m e d i a t e l y on
it ; i | i d is l i t t l e a f f e c t e d by the a r e a l e x -
t e n t of the l o a d . T h i s m a y be s e e n by
f o r compaction in 6 - i n . l i f t s f o r both a
c l a y e y sand and a lean s i l t y c l a y . This
i s r e g a r d e d as r a t h e r c o n c l u s i v e p r o o f
t h a t the d e n s i t y o b t a i n e d i n 6 - i n . l i f t
c o n s t r u c t i o n i s a f u n c t i o n of the t i r e
c o n t a c t p r e s s u r e , r a t h e r than total l o a d .
C o n s e q u e n t l y , the c o n t a c t p r e s s u r e is
b e l i e v e d to be the m o s t i m p o r t a n t s i n g l e
factor influencing compaction in o r d i n -
ary lift construction by r u b b e r - t i r e d
equipmciil. The total w e i g h t of roller the contact area. The average contact
i s of i m p o r t a n c e i i i t h e e c o n o m i c s of the p r e s s u r e so c o m p u t e d is g e n e r a l l y s o m e -
o p e r a t i o n but is of s e c o n d a r y i m p o r , t a n c e what d i f f e r e n t than the inflation pres-
in i n f l u e n c i n g the r e s u l t s obtained. sure. In s e v e r a l cases where the in-
J u s t a s i n the c a s e of s h e e p s f o o t rol- flation pressure was a b o u t 55 p s i . , the
lers, the contact pres.sure can not e x - contact pressure computed from the
ceed the bearing capacity of the soil. total load and t i r e p r i n t area was about
T h i s b e c o m e s of g r e a t e s t i m p o r t a n c e if 65 psi., indicating that the tire side-
c o m p a c t i n g s u b s t a n t i a l l y wet of o p t i m u m walls were carrying part of the load
and w h e n l i i g h p r e s s u r e s a r e b e i n g u s e d . and t h a t a u n i f o r m load d i s t r i b u t i o n did
Ill the writer's experience, high pres- not e x i s t . In contrast, on some higher
sure.s ai'e m o r e c r i t i c a l in cohesionless p r e s s u r e l a r g e r - s i z e t i r e s w h e r e the i n -
S d i l . s Ih.an i n t h o s e h a v i n g s o m e c o h e s i o n . f l a t i o n p r e s s u r e w a s a b o u t 100 p s i . , t h e
Ill o n e iii.stance the t i r e s of a c o m p a c t o r average computed contact pressure was
i n f l a t e d to a p r e s s u r e o f 100 p s i . pene- b u t 87 p s i . , a g a i n d e m o n s t r a t i n g a n u n -
i r a t e d into a sandy s o i l to the e x t e n t that equal pressure distribution. Pressure
a D-8 tractor could not i)ull it. How- cells placed beneath these tires have
ever, p r e c o m p a c l i o i i w i t h the s a m e rol- s h o w n an u n e q u a l pressure distribution
l e r and the t i r e s i n f l a t e d to 60 p s i . | j e r - w i t h a p r e s s u r e on e a c h side of the den-
iiiitled later compaction w i t h the higher t e r l i n e of tlie imprint a r e a of the tires
i n f l a t i o n p r e s s u r e and good r e s u l t s were h i g h e r than that e i t h e r at the c e n t e r line
oljtained or edge

It is considered desirable tliat the

t i r e p r e s s u r e be a s l a r g e as the I j e a r i n g
c a p a c i t y of the s o i l will permit. In a d - Summary
d i t i o n the t i r e s i z e s h o u l d be as large as
possil:)Ie, e s p e c i a l l y if c o m p a c t i n g t h i c k - 11 i s b e l i e v e d t h a t t h e v a r i a t i o n o f t h e
er lifts llian u s u a l and on cohesionless bearing capacity of d i f f e r e n t s o i l s must
soi I s . be recognized, and that it is desirable
to v a r y the r u b b e r - t i r e d roller to suit
Coverages and l i f t t l i i c k n e s s the soil and its bearing capacity when
being compacted. In selecting a roller
T h e e f f e c t of n u m b e r of c o v e r a g e s of for a s p e c i f i c j o b of c o m p a c t i o n , two
rubber-tired I'ollcrs on soil density is important considerations e x i s t , one the
of imiJOrtance and has a relationship c o n t a c t p r e s s u r e a s l i m i t e d by the bear-
similar to that g i v e n f o r s h e e p s f o o t rol- ing capacity of t h e soil, and the other
lers. The e f f e c t , of t h i c k n e s s of l i f t is that of s e l e c t i n g the heaviest roller and
particularly pronounced, however; a largest tire size commensurate with
d e f i c i e n c y in c o n t a c t p r e s s u r e can never p r a c t i c a l and e c o n o m i c a l operation. In
be f u l l y o v e r c o m e b y a thinner lift, and the c a s e of c o h e s i o n l e s s soils these two
decreasing the t h i c k n e s s of l i f t i s an ex- considerations are closely interrelated.
pedient t o be used only when adequate It i s a p p a r e n t that the t i r e s i z e greatly
c o n t a c t p r e s s u r e c a n n o t be attained. i i f f e c l s the b e a r i n g c a p a c i t y i n s o i l s de-
r i v i n g an i m p o r t a n t , p a r t of t h e i r s t r e n g t h
D i s t r i b u t i o n of t i r e l o a d by f r i c t i o n , since the l a r g e r the loaded
area the larger the bearing capacib,'.
Thus, to get e f f e c t i v e c o m p a c t i o n in l i f t
At this t i m e the i m p o r t a n c e (jf v a l u -
construction, a high contact pressure
a t i o n s i n c o n t a c t p r e s s u r e o v e r the c o n -
m a y be r e q u i r e d , b u t i n o r d e r n o t t o e x -
tact area cannot be evaluated but it is
ceed the b e a r i n g c a p a c i t y f o r t h i s pres-
interesting that s u c h v a r i a t i o n s do oc-
s u r e a l a r g e t i r e , and t h e r e f o r e a heavy
cur. This h a s been p''oved by direct
roller, must be used. Regardless of
pressure measurements as well as by
tlie t y p e of s o i l the most important fac-
indi rect means . It i s c u s t o m a r y inconi-
t o r g o v e r n i n g tlie r e s u l t s o b t a i n e d is the
paction studies to measure the contact
contact p r e s s u r e , and t h i s s h o u l d be as
area and to o b t a i n an average contact
l a r g e as c o n d i t i o n s p e r m i t .
pressure by d i v i d i n g the w h e e l l o a d by
IBGRADE COMPACTION a build-up in pore pressures with a pos-
sible decrease in shear strength,
ado c o m p a c t i o n b y r u b b e r - t i r e d S h e e p s f o o t r o l l e r s of h i g h n o m i n a l p r e -
psfoot r o l l e r s is mentioned brief- s u r e i n t e n s i t y ( u p w a r d s of 1000 p s i . )
j m e of the f a c t o r s i n v o l v e d a r e a n d w i t h 18-in<, f e e t h a v e b e e n f o u n d t o
uto In subgrade compaction, give substantial i n c r e a s e s in density up
fits a considerable distance be- to depths of 5 f e e t . H o w e v e r , they leave
leepsfoot or rubber-tired r o l - t h e s u r f a c e ( 1 2 t o 18 i n . ) i n a l o o s e n e d
be c o m p a c t e d . Consequently, c o n d i t i o n a n d do n o t e x h i b i t any t e n -
i^-ad b e c o m e s a v e r y i m p o r t a n t d e n c y t o w a l k o u t i n the u s u a l sense.
on, since only by having a R u b b e r - t i r e d r o l l e r s of m e d i u m w e i g h t
ly h i g h l o a d c a n e f f i c i e n t c o m - can be u s e d s a t i s f a c t o r i l y f o r c o m p a c t -
e s s u r e s i n the s o i l be r e a l i z e d i n g t h e u p p e r 12 t o 18 i n . a f t e r t h e
itial depths, sheepsfoot r o l l e r finishes its deep c o m -
r i t e r s have f o u n d ^ that v e r y p a c t i o n . Stage r o l l i n g of t h i s type ap-
epsfoot r o l l e r s having long p e a r s to o f f e r d e f i n i t e p o s s i b i l i t i e s f o r
given good subgrade c o r n - s u b g r a d e c o m p a c t i o n and m a y be a p p l i -
have achieved e x c e l l e n t r e - c a b l e t o l i f t c o n s t r u c t i o n as w e l l . I t i s
le w a t e r c o n t e n t of the s o i l p o s s i b l e that t h i c k e r l i f t s c o u l d be u s e d
e. It is p a r t i c u l a r l y i m - in this way on l i f t c o n s t r u c t i o n f o r roads,
i p h a s i z e t h a t the w a t e r c o n - a i r f i e l d s and d a m s .
s o i l m u s t be f a v o r a b l e i f deep
Experience has i n d i c a t e d that v e r y
s t o be o b t a i n e d . I f the s o i l
heavy and large r u b b e r - t i r e d rollers,
c a n n o t be c o m p a c t e d , a n d
w i t h c o n t a c t p r e s s u r e s u p w a r d of 65 p s i .
10 d o s o w i l l only result in
may give substantial increases in density
of s u b g r a d e s u p t o d e p t h s o f 5 f e e t , p r o -
impaction T e s t s with Heavy
J . Johnson and A . A , Max- v i d e d that the w a t e r c o n t e n t is f a v o r a b l e
K - b - 1 0 , V o l , 5, P r o c . of 2nd to c o m p a c t i o n aiid that the g r o u n d w i l l
011 M e c h a n i c s and Foundation s u p p o r t the r o l l e r . The r u b b e r - t i r e d
u n e 1948. r o l l e r has the advantage that a l o o s e
l a y e r i s not l e f t a t the s u r f a c e .