Influence of Compaction Method and Effort on Electrical Resistivity and Volume Change of Cohesive Soils

Abstract

Engineered fills are enhanced by compaction to reduce compressibility and permeability. In-situ application of shallow densification methods involve static method with the use of compaction rollers. However, the compaction characteristics of soils are traditionally obtained in the laboratory using dynamic compaction method. Due to the difference in the mechanism of the two compaction methods, there is a variation in the soil fabric formed, quantification of which is scarce. In this research, influence of compaction effort and (dynamic and static) compaction methods on swell and compressibility of two soils of diverse geological formation are investigated. An indirect means of measuring microstructural changes in specimen characteristics using electrical resistivity is also investigated. Results indicate that the compaction effort and the method of compaction have a significant impact on the electrical resistivity and swelling potential. The yield stress of the compacted specimens is also influenced. However, the compressibility and rebound behaviour upon unloading, are obtained to be independent of both the compaction effort and the method of compaction.