SOIL COMPACTION

Soil Compaction

method of mechanically increasing the density of soil. in construction, this is a significant part of the uilding process if performed improperly, settlement of the soil could occur and result in unnecessary maintenance costs or structural failure.

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'hat is Soil(

Soil is formed in place or deposited y )arious forces of nature % such as glaciers, $ind, la*es and ri)ers % residually or organically. important elements in soil compaction" Soil type Soil moisture content

Compaction effort re+uired

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'hy Compact(

There are fi)e principle reasons to compact soil" Increases load% earing capacity Pre)ents frost damage Pro)ides sta ility ,educes $ater seepage, s$elling and contraction ,educes settling of soil

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Types of Compaction

-i ration Impact .neading Pressure

These different types of effort are found in the t$o principle types of compaction force" static and vibratory
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Static /orce

Static /orce 0 dead$eight of the machine, applying do$n$ard force on the soil surface, compressing the soil particles. The only $ay to change the effecti)e compaction force is y adding or su tracting the $eight of the machine. Static compaction is confined to upper soil layers and is limited to any apprecia le depth. .neading and pressure are t$o e1amples of static compaction.

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Static Compactors

-i ratory /orce

-i ratory force uses a mechanism, usually engine%dri)en, to create a do$n$ard force in addition to the machine2s static $eight. The )i rating mechanism is usually a rotating eccentric $eight or piston#spring com ination 3in rammers4. The compactors deli)er a rapid se+uence of lo$s 3impacts4 to the surface, there y affecting the top layers as $ell as deeper layers. -i ration mo)es through the material, setting particles in motion and mo)ing them closer together for the highest density possi le.
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-i ratory Compactors

,esults of Poor Compaction

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Soil Types and Conditions

5)ery soil type eha)es differently $ith respect to ma1imum density and optimum moisture. 5ach soil type has its o$n uni+ue re+uirements and controls oth in the field and for testing purposes. Soil types are commonly classified y grain si6e, determined y passing the soil through a series of sie)es to screen or separate the different grain si6es. A well-graded soil consists of a $ide range of particle si6es $ith the smaller particles filling )oids et$een larger particles. The result is a dense structure that lends itself $ell to compaction.

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Soil 7roups

There are three asic soil groups" Cohesi)e 7ranular Organic 3not suita le for compaction4

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Cohesi)e Soils

8a)e the smallest particles Clay has a particle si6e range of .9999:; to .99<;. Silt ranges from .999<; to .99=;. Clay is used in em an*ment fills and retaining pond eds.

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Characteristics of Cohesi)e Soils

dense and tightly ound together y molecular attraction plastic $hen $et and can e molded, ut ecome )ery hard $hen dry proper $ater content, e)enly distri uted, is critical for proper compaction cohesi)e soils usually re+uire a force such as impact or pressure silt has a noticea ly lo$er cohesion than clay ut is still hea)ily reliant on $ater content

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7ranular soils

range in particle si6e from .99=; to .9>; 3sand4 and .9>; to ?.9; 3fine to medium gra)el4 *no$n for their $ater%draining properties

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Characteristics of 7ranular Soils

Sand and gra)el o tain ma1imum density in either a fully dry or saturated state Testing cur)es are relati)ely flat so density can e o tained regardless of $ater content

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Moisture )s. Soil !ensity

Moisture content of the soil is )ital to proper compaction. Moisture acts as a lu ricant $ithin soil, sliding the particles together. Too little moisture means inade+uate compaction % the particles cannot mo)e past each other to achie)e density. Too much moisture lea)es $ater%filled )oids and su se+uently $ea*ens the load% earing a ility. The highest density for most soils is at a certain $ater content for a gi)en compaction effort. The drier the soil, the more resistant it is to compaction. In a $ater%saturated state the )oids et$een particles are partially filled $ith $ater, creating an apparent cohesion that inds them together. This cohesion increases as the particle si6e decreases 3as in clay%type soils4.
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Moisture )s. Soil !ensity

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Soil !ensity Tests

Soil density tests determine if proper soil compaction is achie)ed for any specific construction application. 'hy Test( Measure density of soil for comparing the degree of compaction )s. specs Measure the effect of moisture on soil density )s. specs Pro)ide a moisture density cur)e identifying optimum moisture

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Types of Tests

Tests to determine optimum moisture content are done in the la oratory. The most common is the Proctor Test, or Modified Proctor Test. A particular soil needs to ha)e an ideal 3or optimum4 amount of moisture to achie)e ma1imum density. This is important not only for dura ility, ut $ill sa)e money ecause less compaction effort is needed to achie)e the desired results.

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The 8and Test

Pic* up a handful of soil @ s+uee6e it in your hand. If the soil is po$dery and $ill not retain the shape made y your hand, it is too dry. If it shatters $hen dropped, it is too dry. If the soil is molda le and rea*s into only a couple of pieces $hen dropped, it has the right amount of moisture for proper compaction. If the soil is plastic in your hand, lea)es traces of moisture on your fingers and stays in one piece $hen dropped, it has too much moisture for compaction.

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Proctor Test 3ASTM !?AAB%C?4

determines the ma1imum density of a soil needed for a specific Do site first determines the ma1imum density achie)a le for the materials and uses this figure as a reference it tests the effects of moisture on soil density the soil reference )alue is e1pressed as a percentage of density these )alues are determined efore any compaction ta*es place to de)elop the compaction specifications. Modified Proctor )alues are higher ecause they ta*e into account higher densities needed for certain types of construction proDects. test methods are similar for oth tests
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Proctor Test

Proctor Test A small soil sample is ta*en from the Do site. A standard $eight is dropped se)eral times on the soil. The material $eighed and then o)en dried for ?< hours in order to e)aluate $ater content

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Modified Proctor Test

This is similar to the Proctor Test e1cept a hammer is used to compact material for greater impact, The test is normally preferred in testing materials for higher shearing strength.

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/ield Tests

Sand Cone Test 3ASTM !?AAE%C94 A small hole 3E; 1 E; deep4 is dug in the compacted material to e tested. The soil is remo)ed and its moisture content is calculated. The specific )olume of the hole is determined y filling it $ith cali rated dry sand from a Dar and cone de)ice. The dry $eight of the soil remo)ed is di)ided y the )olume of sand needed to fill the hole. This gi)es the density of the compacted soil in l s per cu ic foot. This density is compared to the ma1imum Proctor density o tained earlier, $hich gi)es us the relati)e density of the soil that $as Dust compacted.
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Nuclear !ensity 3ASTM !<<C<%C?4

Nuclear !ensity meter uses a radioacti)e isotope source 3Cesium ?=B4 at the soil surface 3 ac*scatter4 or from a pro e placed into the soil 3direct transmission4.

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Nuclear !ensity

The isotope source gi)es off photons 3usually 7amma rays4 $hich radiate ac* to the matter2s detectors on the ottom of the unit. !ense soil a sor s more radiation than loose soil and the readings reflect o)erall density. 'ater content 3ASTM !=9?B4 can also e read, all $ithin a fe$ minutes. A relati)e Proctor density $ith the compaction results from the test.

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N.F.S.!.O.T.
Section 203

Excavation and Embankment

New York State Department of Transportation Standard Specifications Januar 2! 2002 www.dot.state.n .us

<9=%=.?< " Compaction C

"ontractor#s responsibi$it %
&roper$ p$ace and compact a$$ materia$s'' "orrect an deficiencies resu$tin( from insufficient or improper compaction'.. determine t)e t pe! si*e and wei()t of compactor best suited to t)e work at )and! se$ect and contro$ t)e $ift +$a er, t)ickness! exert proper contro$ over t)e moisture content of t)e materia$! and ot)er detai$s necessar to obtain satisfactor resu$ts.

New York State Department of Transportation Standard Specifications Januar 2! 2002 www.dot.state.n .us

StateGs ,esponsi ility

Department wi$$ inspect t)e "ontractor-s operations and wi$$ permit t)e work to continue w)ere% .ift t)ickness is contro$$ed and does not exceed t)e maximum a$$owed. T)e compactive effort +number of passes and trave$ speed, is uniform$ app$ied and not $ess t)an t)at specified for t)e (iven e/uipment c$ass and $ift t)ickness. En(ineer conc$udes from a visua$ observation t)at proper compaction )as been attained. Si(nificant ruttin( under t)e action of t)e compactor is not observed on t)e fina$ passes on a $ift.

New York State Department of Transportation Standard Specifications Januar 2! 2002 www.dot.state.n .us

StateGs ,esponsi ility 3cont.4

State reserves t)e ri()t to perform densit tests at an time. resu$ts s)a$$ indicate t)at not $ess t)an 00 percent of Standard &roctor 1aximum Densit is attained in an portion of an embankment. 02 percent in a sub(rade area! or as specified for ot)er items wit) a percent maximum densit re/uirement.

"ontractor s)a$$ provide an assistance re/uested to faci$itate suc) tests. s)a$$ inc$ude but wi$$ not be $imited to excavation and backfi$$ of test pits and )o$es. New York State Department of Transportation
Standard Specifications Januar 2! 2002 www.dot.state.n .us

Compaction 5+uipment

T)e se$ection of compaction e/uipment is t)e "ontractor-s responsibi$it . 3$$ compaction e/uipment s)a$$ be marked b a permanent$ attac)ed manufacturer-s identification p$ate desi(natin( t)e name of t)e manufacturer! mode$ number and seria$ number of t)e mac)ine as minimum identification. "ompaction e/uipment $ackin( suc) an ori(ina$ manufacturer-s identification p$ate! or wit) a$tered or i$$e(ib$e p$ates! wi$$ not be reco(ni*ed as acceptab$e compaction e/uipment

New York State Department of Transportation Standard Specifications Januar 2! 2002 www.dot.state.n .us

,eferences
Contractors !epot :> Island !ri)e, 5astpoint, /lorida, =<=<> )ttp%44www.concrete5cata$o(.com4soi$6compaction.)tm$ New York State Department of Transportation Standard Specifications Januar 2! 2002 www.dot.state.n .us