Vibratory compaction of coarse-grained soils

Abstract

The variation of the coefficient of earth pressure in normally consolidated and overconsolidated soil and the effect of soil compaction on the change of the horizontal effective stress are discussed based on cone penetration test (CPT) data. A method is outlined for estimating the increase in the effective earth pressure based on sleeve friction measurements. Soil compaction increases not only soil density, but also horizontal effective stress. Since the cone stress is influenced by the vertical and horizontal effective stress, particularly at shallow depths, the cone stress needs to be adjusted for effective mean stress. A relation is presented for determining the soil compressibility from the adjusted cone stress. A case history is presented where a 10 m thick sand fill was compacted using vibratory compaction. Cone penetration tests indicated a significant increase in cone stress and sleeve friction and a decrease in compressibility (increase in modulus number) due to compaction. The friction ratio was unchanged. It was concluded that the earth pressure about doubled corresponding to an increase in the overconsolidation ratio of at least 5. The results of settlement calculations based on the Janbu method demonstrate the importance of considering the preconsolidation effect in the analyses.Key words: sand, CPTU, vibratory compaction, earth pressure, overconsolidation, modulus number, settlement.