1. Soil Compaction
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2. Success of Embankment Proper preparation of foundation.
Use of suitable materials.
Proper placing working and compacting of materials.
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3. Proper Preparation of Foundation
Clear and grub area
Cut vegetation
Remove perishable material
Strip and stockpile
Compact area
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4. Suitable Materials Rock Sand Silt Clay
See Standard specifications list
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5. Unsuitable Materials
Organic soils should not be used as embankment or subgrade material.
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6. Proper Placement and Compaction
Placing layers
Placing in marsh
Placing rock
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7. Placing Layers
The maximum thickness of a layer should not exceed 8 inches loosely placed.
8 inch lifts
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8. Placing Layers
Compact each layer
Level each layer
Parallel
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9. Placing in Marsh
Typically in wet marsh excavations WisDOT allows for marsh backfill to be end dumped into excavation and “surged” down into the excavation with a bulldozer until above water level.
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13. Placing Rock No end dumping Bulldozed or shoved into position
Various sizes
When placing rock all voids must be filled with finer material.
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15. Principles of Compaction
Decrease future settlements
Increase shear strength
Decrease permeability
Increase stability
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16. Not Achieving Compaction? Solutions
Increase compaction effort
Compaction equipment
Change soil moisture content
Optimum moisture content
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17. Figure 1: Compaction Equipment
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18. Figure 1: Compaction Equipment
Static smooth drum roller works well for sealing subgrades after the days grading operations are complete.
Doesn’t work well on clay soils.
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19. Standard Compaction
Embankment compaction
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20. Special Compaction Density tests Sand Cone Method Nuclear Method
Minimum frequency
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21. Moisture Control
Proper moisture conditions are essential for the efficient compaction of earth embankments. Satisfactory moisture conditions almost always are specified in relation to the optimum moisture content for a standard laboratory compaction test.
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22. Moisture Control Discs for wet cohesive soils Blade crown on surface
Mixed
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23. Documentation- Cut sections
Excavated proper grade
Frost susceptible materials
Compaction
EBS
Drainage
Proper disposal
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24. Documentation- Embankments
Preparation of foundation
Soils utilized
Placing and compacting of materials
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25. Documentation-Entries
Soil type
Moisture content
Layer thickness
Drying or wetting
Routing pattern
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26. Earthwork Equipment
Hauling
Leveling
Aerating
Compacting
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27. Figure 2: Track Dozer
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28. Track Dozer Track Dozers are not to be used as compaction equipment.
Used to level lifts of fill.
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29. Subgrade Care
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32. Figure 3:Disc Drying
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33. Disc Drying
Drying of wet soils is necessary and can be accomplished by using graders, discs or harrows.
Aeration of the soil
Necessary for compaction
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34. Figure 4: Rubber Tire Dozer
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35. Rubber Tire Dozer/Scrapers
Hauling, Leveling and Compacting
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44. Figure 5: Sheepsfoot Imprint
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46. Sheepsfoot Imprint Optimum moisture High volume compaction
Lower water content
Increase soil surface
Cohesive and semi-cohesive soils
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47. Figure 5: Motor-Grader
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48. Motor-Grader Aerates and levels Takes out ruts Not for compaction
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49. Figure 6: Solid Subgrade
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50. Solid Subgrade
Keeps subgrade bladed up.
Keeps ruts out.
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51. Figure 7: Excessive Rutting
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53. Excessive Rutting Material too wet Solutions: Motor-grader Tractor
Disc
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54. Figure 8: Embankment construction
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55. Embankment Construction Equipment
Dozer
Tamping Roller
Motor-Grader
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56. Figure 9: Dumping and Leveling
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57. Dumping and Leveling Firm and unyielding support. Prior to first lift.
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58. Figure 10: Tamping Virbratory Roller
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59. Tamping Vibratory Roller
“Dry”, bony material doesn’t stick.
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60. Figure 11: Excellent Material
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61. Excellent Material Dry and granular Some rock Imprints stand out
Not common in WI
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62. Figure 12: Good Conditions
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63. Good Conditions
Back tire of grader is not sinking.
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64. Figure 13: Scraper End Dumping
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65. Scraper End Dumping Pushed into wet area. Granular material
Seal first lift
Don’t trap unstable soil in embankment.
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