Interaction between a cylinder and a partially saturated soil for compaction analysis

Abstract

Compaction is probably the industrial process more intensively used in road construction. The current compaction practice is based on the useful methodology proposed by Proctor (1933). This methodology intends to reproduce field compaction in the laboratory by applying a controlled mechanical energy to the soil and relating the dry density with the water content. However, recent developments in soil compaction analysis in the laboratory and field seek a better understanding of the link between the mechanical stresses applied to the soil and the strains it undergoes. This requirement needs analyzing the stresses applied to the soil by the compaction machine, the distribution of stresses within the soil layer undergoing compaction, and the behavior of the partially saturated soil. This article explores the feasibility of using a series of simplified analytical equations to model compaction within a mechanical framework. The proposed model focuses on the compaction produced by a cylinder applying a static load. The methodology combines the Hertz contact stress theory with the Fröhlich stress distribution and the Barcelona Basic Model for partially saturated soils. The results of the proposed analytical model successfully agree with the experimental observations obtained using a geotechnical centrifuge model and confirming its potential use for compaction control and monitoring.