Effect of Compaction Energy on the Behavior of Coefficient of Consolidation for the Compacted Fine-Grained Soils

Abstract

Construction exploits marginal areas and landfills due to a lack of suitable worksites. Several researchers are interested in the engineering behavior of compacted fine-grained soils. Clay mineral composition suggests compacted fine-grained soils behave physicochemically. Six natural soils and one artificial soil with varying clay mineralogical compositions (kaolinite, montmorillonite, and K-M) and liquid limits (46, 55, and 68%) were selected and they were categorized into three different groups [G-1 (46%) {K & M-soils}, G-2 (55%) {K & M-soils}, and G-3 (68%) {K, M, & K-M soils}. Consolidation tests were conducted in one dimension under various placement conditions (95% of optimal on dry and wet sides and at optimum), energy levels (Light (LC) and Heavy Compaction (HC)), and seated pressures (σ) from 6.25 to 1600 kPa (@ load increment ratio of 1). The effect of energy level concept was studied by defining the energy ratio of Cv (CvER) = {Cv @ HC/Cv @ LC}) and average ratio (CvAR = Average of CvER) using Proctor compaction energy ratio or standard energy ratio (SER). The values of Cv for heavy compaction can be estimated directly from light compaction energy level values using correlations (R2 = 0.86 to 0.99).