Geotechnical Engineering – I

CE253

Lecture 14: Compaction

Course instructor
Dr. RAJESWARI J S
Ad-hoc Faculty
NIT ANDHRA PRADESH
Compressibility of Soil
It is a property of soil due to which reduction of volume occurs under
application of mechanical or external loads.

Compression in soils takes place due to

(1) Compression & expulsion of air in voids
(2) Expulsion of water in the voids
(3) Rearrangement of soil particles
compression of solid grains and water in voids are neglected
Reduction in the Reduction in the
volume of air volume of water

Air
Air Water
Water Water Water

Solids Solids Solids Solids

Compaction Consolidation 2
Compaction
 Reduction of soil mass is due to expulsion of air from voids under
short duration, moving or vibratory loads.

 Compaction improves the properties of soil or in the process of

placing fill such as in the construction of embankments, subgrades,
runways, earth dams etc.

3
https://www.slideshare.net/DrAbdulmannanOrabi/lecture-5-soil-compaction-67797618
 Objectives of compaction
 To increase soil shear strength and therefore its bearing capacity
 To reduce subsequent settlement under working load
 To reduce soil permeability making it more difficult for water to
flow through
 Control swelling and shrinkage

Loose soil Compacted soil 4

https://agrilife.org/texasrowcrops/2015/11/04/wet-weather-field-traffic-more-soil-compaction-reduced-nutrient-use-efficiency-and-yield/
Standard Proctor test  Hammer weight – 2.5 kg
 Number of layers – 3
 Blows per each layer – 25
 Drop height – 304.8 mm
Standard Proctor test as per IS 2720 – part VII (1987)

Venkataramaiah, c (2006)
Moisture Content—Dry Density Relationship
Modified Proctor test

 Hammer weight – 4.54 kg

 Number of layers – 5
 Blows per each layer – 25
 Drop height – 457 mm
 Compaction effort of modified
proctor is 4.56 times higher
than standard proctor test
SATURATION (ZERO-AIR-VOIDS) LINE

    d
1  na Gs  w
 d  t 
1 w  1  wGs
Principle of compaction
Water is acting as softening agent on
the soil particles

w = 0; Ƴ = Ƴ0 = Ƴd0

Unit weight
w = w1; Ƴ = Ƴ1
Ƴd(w=w1) = Ƴd0 + ΔƳd Ƴ2
Soil solid
Ƴ1
ΔƳd max
ΔƳd

w = w2; water occupies Water

full air voids space
Ƴ = Ƴ0 = Ƴd0
w > w2; water occupies Soil solid
voids space and also
soil particle space as w1 w2
Moisture content
well 12
Moisture Content—Dry Density Relationship

 t 
 d  
1 w 

Venkataramaiah, c (2006)
SATURATION (ZERO-AIR-VOIDS) LINE

 t  d 
1  na Gs  w
 d  
1 w  1  wGs
Venkataramaiah, c (2006)