Re-examination of compaction characteristics of fine-grained soils

Abstract

This technical note re-examines the compaction characteristics of three soils, and develops a phenomenological model for their prediction, which will enable compaction data to be handled more confidently. Standard Proctor compaction test data were generated for three soils with liquid limit water contents ranging from 48% to 84%. It was found that by defining a soil in terms of its liquid limit and liquid limit water content, the path of compaction for a specific compactive effort could be predicted via a simple density-water content-liquid limit relationship. The whole compaction path can be confirmed from the series of compaction curves, presented for the practical range of liquid-limit water contents, if just one point is known of the density-water content data and the liquid limit value. It then becomes possible to assess rapidly the water content of the wet soil mix, ready for compaction, by bulk density determination from a single Proctor compaction test. Several series of compaction curves are displayed in charts, and a table shows the comparison between predicted and actual water contents of wet soil mix.