Prediction of Compaction Characteristics from Atterberg Limits for Fine-Grained Soils
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Date
2012-05
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Compaction is one of the most important and routine engineering techniques, performed to assure the safety and stability of soils. However, in some situations such as large scale projects, obtaining the desired compaction characteristics, namely optimum moisture content (OMC) and maximum dry unit weight (𝛄dmax), becomes time consuming and impracticable. In this case, predicting the compaction characteristics from correlation equations of index properties that involves simpler and quicker method of testing becomes vital task.
In this thesis, attempts have been made to obtain valid correlations between compaction characteristics of fine-grained soils with their Atterberg limits. For this purpose, 110 laboratory test data has been collected from different Governmental organizations. In addition, 20 samples were collected and a series of laboratory tests conducted as a primary data for this work. The total data used in this study is, therefore, 130.
In the analysis part, both the MS excel spreadsheet and the SPSS software have been used for the scatter plot, correlation, and regression analysis. Attempts were made to obtain the relationships of all the parameters (liquid limit, plastic limit, plasticity index, optimum moisture content, and maximum dry unit weight).
Results of the analyses reveal that both OMC and 𝛄dmax have strong correlation with the PL than the other Atterberg limits. The OMC is particularly found to be about 90% of the PL. Therefore, it can be suggested that during prediction of OMC and 𝛄dmax from Atterberg limit, the plastic limit should be used rather than other Atterberg limits. However, it shall be noted that 𝛄dmax has better correlation with OMC than the PL.
The outcome of this thesis may be applicable in different civil Engineering sectors, especially for preliminary investigations and prefeasibility study of Civil Engineering works such as Construction of Roads, Earth dams, Earth fills, and other works that involve soils.
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Geotechnical Engineering