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Ceg461 - Tutorial 4a - Compaction

This document provides information and questions related to soil compaction. It includes: 1) Definitions of compaction and relative density and a standard compaction test with results. Students are asked to analyze the results to determine optimum moisture content and maximum dry density. 2) Factors that determine field compaction and analysis of field compaction test results. Students are asked to determine field dry density and moisture content. 3) Factors that affect compaction effectiveness and analysis of additional standard compaction tests to determine optimum moisture content and densities. 4) Another standard compaction test with analysis questions to determine densities, moisture contents, and compaction variation ranges.

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350 views

Ceg461 - Tutorial 4a - Compaction

This document provides information and questions related to soil compaction. It includes: 1) Definitions of compaction and relative density and a standard compaction test with results. Students are asked to analyze the results to determine optimum moisture content and maximum dry density. 2) Factors that determine field compaction and analysis of field compaction test results. Students are asked to determine field dry density and moisture content. 3) Factors that affect compaction effectiveness and analysis of additional standard compaction tests to determine optimum moisture content and densities. 4) Another standard compaction test with analysis questions to determine densities, moisture contents, and compaction variation ranges.

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dzikryds
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© © All Rights Reserved
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FAKULTI KEJURUTERAAN AWAM

UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA

Soil Mechanics (ECG426) TUTORIAL 3A Compaction of Soil

QUESTION 1

(a) In relation to soils define the terms compaction and relative density.
(CO1-PO1) (C1-C2)
(4 marks)

(b) The results from a standard compaction test are given in Table Q1 below. Complete your
own tabulation and plot the compaction characteristics of the soil. Finally answer the
following questions.

i) Determine the optimum water content and maximum dry density of the compacted
soil.
ii) On the same axes, plot the dry density versus water content curves for zero percent
(0%) and five percent (5%) air voids and also determine the air-voids content of the
soil at maximum dry density.

Take the volume of the mould as 945 cm3 and the specific gravity of the soil particle as
2.72.
(CO3-PO1) (C3-C4)
(16 marks)

Table Q1

Bulk density determination data


Test number 1 2 3 4 5
Mass of Mould +
2895 3054 3100 3044 2974
Compacted Soil (g)
Mass of Mould (g) 1040 1040 1040 1040 1040

Water content determination data


Container Number 1 2 3 4 5
Mass of Container (g) 9.40 9.30 9.30 9.50 9.50
Mass of Container +
20.10 19.41 21.17 19.34 20.14
Wet Soil (g)
Mass of Container +
19.2 18.32 19.60 17.81 18.20
Dry Soil (g)
QUESTION 2

(a) Discuss THREE (3) important factors that determine the amount of compaction in the field.
(CO1-PO1) (C1-C2)
(4 marks)

(b) As a trainee engineer you are assigned to supervise a field compaction work. A soil
sample was taken from the site and a standard Proctor compaction test was carried out on
the soil sample and the test results were compiled as the following.

Wet Density (Mg/m3) 1.848 1.917 2.002 2.054 2.035

Water Content (%) 7.1 8.8 11.3 14.6 17.8

The particle density of the soil solids is found to be 2.60 Mg/m3.

i) Plot the compaction curve and determine the maximum dry density and the optimum
moisture content.
ii) On the same graph plot the zero air voids curve. Determine the air-voids content at
optimum moisture content.
iii) A field control test using sand replacement method was conducted on the compacted
layer and the following result were obtained

Mass of wet soil removed : 1590 g


Dry density of sand,  d (sand) : 2.64 Mg/m3
Mass of sand to fill-up hole : 2152 g

Water content determination


Mass of wet soil + container : 176 g
Mass of dry soil + container : 155 g
Mass of container : 45 g
:
Determine the field dry density and water content of the compacted layer.
(CO3-PO1) (C3-C4)
(13 marks)

(c) From the result obtained in (b), has the required compaction been achieved if the relative
compaction required for the soil layer is 98% of the Standard Proctor compaction? Explain
why.
(CO3-PO1) (C5-C6)
(3 marks)
QUESTION 3

a) The effectiveness of compaction process is dependent on at least five factors. List any
THREE (3) of the factors.
(CO1-PO1) (C1-C2)
(4 marks)

b) Data from a standard BS compaction test was analysed and the following results were
noted.

Bulk density (Mg/m3) 1.87 2.04 2.13 2.20 2.16 2.09

Water content (%) 5 8 10 13 16 19

The specific gravity of the soil particle is Gs = 2.70. Based on the given data:

i) Plot the curve of dry density against water content.


ii) Determine the maximum dry density and optimum water content.
iii) On the same axes, plot the dry density/water content curves for zero and 5 percent
air voids.
iv) Determine the air-voids content at the maximum dry density.
(CO3-PO1) (C3-C4)
(12 marks)

(c) Discuss any ONE (1) of the field density measurement methods normally used to
determine the field density of a compacted soil.
(CO3-PO1) (C3-C4)
(4 marks)
QUESTION 4

The results from a standard compaction test are given in Table Q4 below. Complete your own
tabulation and plot the compaction characteristics of the soil. Finally answer the following
questions.

i) Determine the optimum water content and maximum dry density of the compacted soil.
ii) On the same axes, plot the dry density versus water content curves for zero percent
and five percent air voids and also obtain the air voids content of the soil at the
maximum dry density.
iii) If under field conditions the optimum moisture contents may vary by + 2 % and the air
voids contents may vary by + 1.5 %, determine and indicate on the graph the range of
field variations that may be expected.

Take the volume of the mould as 945 cm3 and the specific gravity of the soil particle as 2.65.
(CO3-PO1) (C3-C4)
(20 marks)

Table Q4

Bulk density determination data


Test number 1 2 3 4 5

Mass of Mould +
6359 6481 6542 6540 6425
Compacted Soil (g)

Mass of Mould (g) 4420 4420 4420 4420 4420

Water content determination data


Container Number 1 2 3 4 5
Mass of Container (g) 9.40 9.30 9.30 9.50 15.80
Mass of Container +
59.70 65.70 74.00 44.10 78.50
Wet Soil (g)
Mass of Container +
58.10 62.70 69.60 40.70 70.10
Dry Soil (g)

Compiled by
AP Abd Rahman bin Mahamood
April 2012

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