A novel device for inclined compaction test on soils

Abstract

It can be said that the soil compaction test is currently the standard method for obtaining the right amount of water to be added in order to achieve a maximum dry density. Then, the water content obtained from laboratory work, known as optimum moisture content, is utilised in the field for compacting the soil. It should be noted that the compaction test is carried out on a soil sample prepared in a mould horizontally laid. In the field, however, quite often the compaction is done on side embankments or sloping grounds. Hence, using the laboratory result to control the field density for such cases is problematic. Therefore, this study developed a device that could be used to conduct the compaction test concerning the following conditions: (1) compaction is vertically applied to a soil sample inclined at various angles (VC), and (2) compaction is normal to an inclined soil sample (IC). Some initial tests on lateritic soil using both methods developed showed that at the same energy applied the densities are quite different. These results confirm that, in the case of sloping ground, the standard compaction test may not be appropriate.