Analysis of compaction parameters of the exemplary non-cohesive soil determined by Proctor methods and vibrating table tests

Abstract

Abstract The purpose of the work is to analyze compaction parameters of non-cohesive uniformly graded soil – optimum moisture content (wopt) and maximum dry density (ρdmax), obtained from Proctor tests and using vibrating table. The research was conducted on even-graded medium sand (Safgr), of uniformity coefficient CU = 3.10 and coefficient of curvature CC = 0.99. Compaction parameters were examined by using Proctor tests – standard Proctor tests (I and II) and modified Proctor tests (III and IV) in compliance with PN-B-04481:1988, and also standard (A+A and A+B) and modified (B+A and B+B) according to PN-EN 13286-2:2010, and by using a vibrating table in compliance with PN-EN 13286-5:2006 at four sample loading attempts. The moisture content of the samples increased by 1–2% in the range of about 0% to about 10%. On the basis of the analysis of data from soil studies with uniform grain size (poorly compactable soil), it can be concluded that the values of test results ρdmax of medium sand with standard (or modified) Proctor tests according to PN-B-04481:1988 and PN-EN 13286-2:2010 are close to each other. It can be concluded that in the case of ρdmax, the vibrating table method (with the assumed test conditions) allows to achieve results comparable to those of Proctor (mean relative difference 1.88%). Using the vibrating table the wopt values were lower than those obtained by Proctor tests (mean relative difference of 18.84%).