The purpose of this process is to increase the strength and stability of the soil and reduce its porosity. Mechanical compaction is performed, among other situations, during work related to the construction of building foundations, roads, bridges and other structures. What parameters define this indicator, and what is worth knowing about it?
Soil Compaction Testing – Key Parameters
Companies that perform soil tests have modern laboratories where soil samples collected by qualified personnel, for example at a construction site, are examined. There are several parameters that directly or indirectly determine the degree of soil compaction. The first is bulk density, meaning the ratio of the mass of soil to its volume, expressed in kg/m³. Another is the degree of compaction, also known as compactness. This property precisely defines the ratio of the actual soil density to the maximum density of the compacted mass that can be achieved. This parameter is given as a percentage.
Soil tests aimed at determining density also include checking the moisture content of soil in samples collected, for example, at a construction site. This parameter is the percentage of the mass of water relative to the dry mass of the soil.
Other Parameters Defining Soil Compaction
When determining the degree of soil compaction, tests are performed to establish porosity (n). This indicator is the ratio of the volume of pores to the total volume of the sample. The next parameter is saturation density, meaning the ratio of the mass of water to the volume of the soil pores. This property is expressed in kg/m3.
The next parameter is dry density, meaning the density of soil from which all water has been removed. This indicator is also referred to as the specific density of soil. The above parameters are crucial in compaction tests because they make it possible to determine the efficiency of the entire process. In addition, they provide valuable data that makes it possible to predict soil behavior under loading conditions.