GOOD

AFTERNOON !
SOIL COMPACTION
What is Compaction?
Refers to densification of soil by compressing the soil particles more tightly
to remove air from void spaces. In Geotechnical Engineering, densification
improves the quality of soil by Mechanical stabilization. Effects of compaction
in soil are as follow:
➢ Increase the soil shear strength
➢ It reduces the soil settlement
➢ It decreases the permeability on the soil
➢ It increases the stability of the slope embankment
 NEW TERMINOLOGIES/TEST REQUIRED
• Maximum Dry Unit Weight, 𝛾𝑑(max)
PROCTOR
• Minimum Dry Unit Weight, 𝛾𝑑(m𝑖𝑛) COMPACTION
TEST
• Optimum Moisture Content (OMC)
FIELD DENSITY
• Field Unit Weight (moist), 𝛾(𝑓𝑖𝑒𝑙𝑑) TEST (Sand Cone
Method, Rubber
• Field Dry Unit Weight, 𝛾𝑑(𝑓𝑖𝑒𝑙𝑑) Balloon Method &
Nuclear Method)
PROCTOR COMPACTION TEST:
Is a laboratory method of experimentally determining the Optimum
Moisture Content (O.M.C.) at which a given soil type will become most dense
and achieve its Maximum Dry Density/Unit Weight (𝛾𝑑(max) ). The test is
named in honor of Ralph Roscoe Proctor, who in 1933 showed that the dry
density of a soil for a given compactive effort depends on the amount of water
the soil contains during soil compaction.
This test is part of the soil investigation on the site, now called as modified
proctor compaction test. Before starting a project geodetic engineers must
conduct the Proctor Compaction Test on the site to know what is the OMC and
the Maximum Dry Unit Weight.
SAMPLE PROBLEM:
The laboratory test data for a standard proctor test are given on a table.
Determine the maximum dry unit weight and optimum moisture content.
Volume of Proctor mold = 943.30 𝑐𝑚3
Mass of Wet Soil Moisture
in the Mold Content
(kg) (%)
1.76 12
1.86 14
1.92 16
1.95 18
1.93 20
1.90 22
SAMPLE PROBLEM:
The laboratory test data for a standard proctor test are given on a table.
Determine the maximum dry unit weight and optimum moisture content.
Volume of Proctor mold = 943.30 𝑐𝑚3
Mass of Wet Soil Moisture Weight of Moist Unit Weight, Dry Unit Weight,
in the Mold Content Wet Soil, W 𝒌𝑵 𝒌𝑵
𝜸 (𝒎𝟑 ) 𝜸𝒅 (𝒎𝟑)
(kg) (%) (N)
1.76 12 17.266 18.304 16.343
1.86 14 18.247 19.344 16.968
1.92 16
18.835 19.967 17.213
1.95 18
19.130 20.280 17.186
1.93 20
1.90 22 18.933 20.071 16.726
18.639 19.759 16.196
Weight of Moist Unit Weight, Dry Unit Weight,
Wet Soil, W 𝒌𝑵 𝒌𝑵
𝜸 (𝒎𝟑 ) 𝜸𝒅 (𝒎𝟑)
(N)
17.266 18.304 16.343
18.247 19.344 16.968
18.835 19.967 17.213
19.130 20.280 17.186
18.933 20.071 16.726 18.0
18.639 19.759 16.196
Mass of Wet Soil Moisture 17.5
in the Mold Content
(kg) (%)
1.76 12
17.0
1.86 14
1.92 16 16.5
1.95 18
1.93 20 16.0
1.90 22 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24
Weight of Moist Unit Weight, Dry Unit Weight,
Wet Soil, W 𝒌𝑵 𝒌𝑵
𝜸 (𝒎𝟑 ) 𝜸𝒅 (𝒎𝟑)
(N)
17.266 18.304 16.343
18.247 19.344 16.968
18.835 19.967 17.213
19.130 20.280 17.186
18.933 20.071 16.726 18.0
18.639 19.759 16.196
𝛾 𝑘𝑁
𝑑(max)=17.25 ( 3 )
Mass of Wet Soil Moisture 17.5 𝑚
in the Mold Content Dry Unit
(kg) (%)
Weight, 17.0
1.76 12 𝛾𝑑 ( 𝑘𝑁 ) OMC = 16.3 %
1.86 14 𝑚3
1.92 16 16.5
1.95 18 Moisture
1.93 20 16.0 Content,
10
1.90 22 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 (%)
FORMULA TO REMEMBER IN SOIL
COMPACTION: Other useful Formulas related to soil
Field Unit Weight compaction:
𝑊
𝛾(𝑖𝑛−𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑢) =
𝑉 Volume Backfill
𝑉𝑟𝑒𝑞 𝑉𝑠𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑐𝑒
=
Dry Unit Weight 1 + 𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑞 1 + 𝑒𝑠𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑐𝑒
𝛾𝑚𝑜𝑖𝑠𝑡
𝛾𝑑(𝑓𝑖𝑒𝑙𝑑) =
1+𝜔
Shrinkage Factor
𝑒1 − 𝑒2
Relative Compaction (%R) 𝑆ℎ𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑘𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝐹𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟 = 𝑥100
1 + 𝑒1
𝛾𝑑(𝑓𝑖𝑒𝑙𝑑)
%𝑅 = 𝑥100 𝑒1 = original or undisturbed void ratio
𝛾𝑑(𝑚𝑎𝑥)
𝑒2 = void ratio after compaction
SAMPLE PROBLEM 1:
In an on-going land development project, a contractor requested for a concrete
pouring request. After conducting FDT in Road Lot 1 and Road Lot 2, the results of
Sand Cone Method. (𝛾𝑑(𝑜𝑡𝑡𝑎𝑤𝑎 𝑠𝑎𝑛𝑑) = 16.353 𝑘𝑁/𝑚3 ) are as follows, determine the
following:
Location Total Weight of Retained Mass Moisture Weight of Soil
Sand (kg) of Sand (kg) Content Sample (kg)
Road Lot 1 7.40 6.2 20% 1.39
Road Lot 2 7.40 6.3 19% 1.30

Properties of soil base on Soil Investigation Result:

Specific Gravity of Soil Particles : 2.75
Weight of Soil Sample : 1.6309
Volume of Soil Sample : 0.0008 𝑚3
SAMPLE PROBLEM 1:
a. Maximum dry unit weight (kN/𝑚3 ) of soil sample in field if the OMC is at 22%.
b. As Civil Engineer, will you allow the concrete pouring in Road Lot 1 base on its FDT result
and if the allowed Relative Compaction should be equal or higher than 95%.
c. As Civil Engineer, will you allow the concrete pouring in Road Lot 2 base on its FDT result
and if the allowed Relative Compaction should be equal or higher than 95%.
SAMPLE PROBLEM 2:
A proposed embankment fill requires 8,000 cu. meters of compacted soil.
The void ratio of the compacted fill is specified as 0.70. Four borrow pits are
available as described in the table which list the respective void ratios of the
soil and cost per cubic meter for moving the soil to the proposed construction
site. Make necessary calculations to select pit from which the soils should be
bought to minimize the cost. Assume Gs to be the same at all pits.
Borrow Pit Void Ratio Cost (Php/cu. m)
A 0.82 400.00
B 1.1 250.00
C 0.9 450.00
D 0.78 600.00
THANK YOU!
ACTIVITY 1 - MIDTERM!
NUMBER 1:
In an on-going land development project, a contractor requested for a concrete
pouring request. After conducting FDT in Road Lot 1 and Road Lot 2, the results of
Sand Cone Method. (𝛾𝑑(𝑜𝑡𝑡𝑎𝑤𝑎 𝑠𝑎𝑛𝑑) = 16.353 𝑘𝑁/𝑚3 ) are as follows, determine the
following:
Location Total Weight of Retained Mass Moisture Weight of Soil
Sand (kg) of Sand (kg) Content Sample (kg)
Road Lot 1 5.40 4.2 19% 1.35
Road Lot 2 5.40 4.5 15% 1.2

Properties of soil base on Soil Investigation Result:

Specific Gravity of Soil Particles : 2.65
Weight of Soil Sample : 1.582 kg
Volume of Soil Sample : 0.000782 𝑚3
NUMBER 1:
a. Maximum dry unit weight (kN/𝑚3 ) of soil sample in field if the OMC is at 21%.
b. As Civil Engineer, will you allow the concrete pouring in Road Lot 1 base on its
FDT result and if the allowed Relative Compaction should be equal or higher than
95%. (𝛾𝑑(𝑜𝑡𝑡𝑎𝑤𝑎 𝑠𝑎𝑛𝑑) = 16.353 𝑘𝑁/𝑚3 )
c. Assuming that the sand used in conducting FDT in Road Lot 2 is different, what
will be its dry unit weight if you will allow concrete pouring in Road Lot 2?
NUMBER 2:
A proposed embankment fill requires 5000 cu. Meters of compaction soil.
The void ratio of the compacted fill is specified as 0.80. Three borrow pits are
available as described in the following table:
BORROW PIT Void Ratio Cost/cu. m.

A 0.85 P830
B 0.95 P760
C 0.45 P720

What is the total cost for acquiring soil from Borrow Pit A, B and C?
NUMBER 3:
A proposed embankment fill requires 8,000 cu. meters of compacted soil.
The void ratio of the compacted fill is specified as 0.70. Four borrow pits are
available as described in the table which list the respective void ratios of the
soil and cost per cubic meter for moving the soil to the proposed construction
site. Make necessary calculations to select pit from which the soils should be
bought to minimize the cost. Assume Gs to be the same at all pits.
Borrow Pit Void Ratio Cost (Php/cu. m)
A 0.89 400.00
B 0.45 600.00
C 0.65 450.00
D 0.78 250.00
NUMBER 4:

A relative compaction of sand in the field is 94%. The maximum

and minimum dry unit weights of the sand are 16.2 kN/ 𝑚3 and
14.9 kN/ 𝑚3 respectively. For the field condition determine the
following:
a. Dry unit weight, kN/ 𝑚3
b. Relative density of compaction, %
c. Moist unit weight at moisture content of 8%, kN/ 𝑚3
NUMBER 5:
A proposed earth fill needs 30,000 𝑚3 of soil and be compacted to
95% of Standard Proctor dry density. Tests indicate that the max dry
density is 19.4 kN/ 𝑚3 at an optimum water content of 16%. The borrow
material in its natural condition has a unit weight of 17.6 kN/ 𝑚3 and
water content of 12%. Determine the following:

a. Total volume of borrow required, 𝑚3

b. Volume of void of borrow material if Gs = 2.671, 𝑚3
c. Quantity of water to be added to bring the soil to the optimum
moisture content, L
NUMBER 6:
The following observations were recorded when sand
replacement test was conducted using sand-cone equipment in
order to find the density of natural soil.
Density of sand used in the test = 1.4 g/𝑐𝑚3
Weight of soil excavated from the pit = 950 grams
Weight of sand filling the pit = 700 grams
Water content of natural soil = 15%
Specific Gravity of solid = 2.70
Compute the dry density of soil in g/𝑐𝑚3