COMPACTION OF SOIL

Introduction 
 Compaction is required for the following reasons:
Soil is used as a construction material for constructing embankments and (i) Compaction improves the engineering properties like shear strength,
subgrades. Embankments are constructed to raise the ground level above
the existing level up to the formation level to support buildings, roads, or density, permeability etc. of the fill.
railways or other structures and also to retain water as in the case of earth
(ii) It reduces the potential for excessive settlement.
dams or canal banks. Subgrades are constructed to provide support to the
(iii) It reduces the chances of slope stability problems like landslides.
roads as a base to withstand the traffic loads.
(iv) It reduces the amount of water that can be held in the soil by
The stability and durability of the embankments and subgrades depends on
decreasing the void ratio and thus helps in maintaining the required
the improvement of shear strength of the soil as well as the restriction of
strength.
settlements or deformation within permissible limits. The strength and  Rammers:
(v) It increases the erosion resistance which helps in maintaining the
deformation characteristics of embankments and subgrades depend directly
ground surface in serviceable condition. Rammers are used for compacting soils in relative small areas and where
on the density of the soil.
rollers cannot be operated such as compacting trenches slopes etc.
 Factors Affecting Compaction:
 Soil Compaction –
The various factors which affect the compacted density are as follows: Rammers used in field compaction are of two types:
Soil compaction is defined as the method of
mechanically increasing the density of soil. In construction, this is a (i) Moisture content (i) Hand operated rammers
significant part of the building process.
Compaction of soil is the application of mechanical energy to a soil to (ii) Compactive effort (ii) Mechanical rammers.
rearrange the particles and reduce the void ratio and increase soil density.
If performed improperly, settlement of the soil could occur and result in (iii) Type of soil
unnecessary maintenance costs or structural failure. Soil compaction has
many benefits but the appropriate amount of compaction and conduct (iv) Method of compaction
quality control to realize these benefits should be specified. The degree of
compacti (v) Addition of admixture.
on of soil is measured by its unit weight , and the optimum moisture
content, wc.  Field Compaction Equipment’s: The following types of
equipment’s are used in the field for compacting embankments,
 Purpose of Compaction of Soil-
sub-grades, road bases etc.:
 Vibrators:
 Due to compaction, soil particles are rearranged and packed closely. (a) Rollers
Therefore, shear strength increases.
 Due to compaction, air voids reduces. So porosity decreases, which (b) Rammers Vibrators are used for compacting sandy and gravelly soils. These compact
helps for low permeability and water tightness. the soil by other device to induce strong vibrations into the soil. Vibrations
 Chances of further settlement reduces with the help of compaction (c) Vibrators.
produced by vibrators typically have frequency of 1000-3500 cycles per
because, soil particles are closely packed together and volume
 Different types of rollers used in field for compaction are: minute. If a vibrating unit is mounted on a roller, then it is called vibratory
decreases after compaction.
 Compaction inceases the dry density which is caused for increases in (i) Sheeps foot rollers roller.
bearing capacity of soil.
 Compaction help to improve the engineering properties of soil . (ii) Tamping foot rollers
 Compact soil help the structure to have stable and long life span.
(iii) Smooth wheel rollers
 field situation where compaction is required-
COMPACTION OF SOIL IS NECESSARY IN FOLLOWING FIELDS:- (iv) Pneumatic tyred rollers
 f or the construction of embankment.
(v) Vibratory rollers
 for the construction of road subgrades.
 For the construction of earthen dams.
 For the foundation soil in buildings.
 For the reducing the settlement of foundation.
 For improving bearing capacity of soil.