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Compaction

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Encyclopedia of Engineering Geology

Part of the book series: Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series ((EESS))

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Synonyms

Densification; Soil stabilization

Definition

Compaction or densification is reduction in the volume of voids in a soil mass caused by rearrangement of soil particles by mechanical means.

Introduction

Compaction is used as a method of stabilizing soils, i.e., improving their properties. Compaction is required when soils are used as a construction material in applications such as structural fill, highway and railroad embankments, earth dams and levees, cover and liner material for sanitary landfills, foundation material, and reclamation of mine waste embankments.

Compaction improves almost all desirable properties of soils. It reduces detrimental settlements, increases soil strength and improves its stability, improves bearing capacity, reduces permeability, and reduces volume changes due to frost action, shrinking, and swelling.

Compaction is measured in terms of dry density (ρd), which is defined as the weight of solids (mineral particles) per unit volume. In the field or...

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References

  • American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) (2010) Annual book of standards. Section 4, Construction, 4.08, Soil and Rock (1). Conshohocken, PA

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  • Lukas RG (1980) Densification of loose deposits by pounding. J Geotech Eng Div ASCE 106(GT4):435–446

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  • Lukas RG (1995) Dynamic compaction. Geotechnical Engineering Circular No. 1, FHWA Publication No. 1, Report No. FWHA-SA-95-037. Office of Technology Applications, Washington, DC, p 105

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  • Menard LF, Broise Y (1975) Theoretical and practical aspects of dynamic consolidation. Geotechnique XXV(1):3–18

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  • Proctor RR (1933) Fundamental principles of soil compaction. Eng News Rec 111 (9, 10, 12, and 13)

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geology, Kent State University, Kent, OH, 44242, USA

    Abdul Shakoor

Authors
  1. Abdul Shakoor
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Abdul Shakoor .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Earth Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Kanata, Ontario, Canada

    Peter T. Bobrowsky

  2. London, United Kingdom

    Brian Marker

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© 2016 Springer International Publishing AG

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Shakoor, A. (2016). Compaction. In: Bobrowsky, P., Marker, B. (eds) Encyclopedia of Engineering Geology. Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-12127-7_62-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-12127-7_62-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-12127-7

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Earth and Environm. ScienceReference Module Physical and Materials ScienceReference Module Earth and Environmental Sciences

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