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More Accurate Compaction Standards Will Speed Construction and Cut Costs

Posted: Aug 12, 2021

Researchers at South Dakota State University used data from the South Dakota Department of Transportation to develop a new family of compaction curves to be utilized in base and subbase material compaction quality control. These curves, standards based on the relationship between soil weight and moisture-density curves under given levels of compaction, follow a more effective regression model than the previously used curves. The newly developed curves may reduce the time required to obtain target density and the optimum moisture content associated with assessing compacted granular materials. This may lead to better approximations in achieving acceptable percentages of the target density when conducting in-place field testing. This will cut costs by reducing over compaction, thus saving time in the compaction process.

Allen Jones, Ph.D.
South Dakota State University

Compaction Testing of Granular Material
MPC-21-435

NDSU Dept 2880P.O. Box 6050Fargo, ND 58108-6050
(701)231-7767ndsu.ugpti@ndsu.edu