Soil stiffness as a function of dry density and the degree of saturation for compaction control

Abstract

A data set of the coefficient of vertical subgrade reaction for a plate diameter of 30 cm, KP.FWD, measured by Portable Falling Weight Deflectometer tests in full-scale compaction tests on sandy soil using various types of compaction machines was analysed. Based on this analysis and the previous analysis of a CBR data set from another full-scale compaction test series, a set of conclusions could be drawn. The soil stiffness indexes (SSIs), CBR and KP.FWD, can be expressed by, respectively, an empirical equation multiplying a function of ρd and another of Sr, where CBR and KP.FWD decrease significantly as Sr increases. As such, ρd values cannot be estimated from SSI alone. By fixing the field ρd – w compaction curve by keeping the soil type and the field compaction energy level, CELf, to those in the field compaction tests in which the SSI – ρd – Sr correlation has been calibrated, field compacted ρd & w states can be estimated by measuring the SSI values. Then, by the upper-bound and lower-bound control of SSI, the field compacted states approach the specified target, where, typically, ρd = the maximum dry density for CELf and Sr = the optimum degree of saturation, (Sr)opt. A method to incorporate this indirect but fast SSI-based compaction control into the conventional ρd & w-based compaction control is proposed.

Keywords

• Compaction control
• Degree of compaction
• Degree of saturation
• Dry density
• Soil stiffness
• Water content