MPC Research Reports
Report Details

Title:	Compaction Testing of Granular Material
Authors:	Allen Jones and Jason Weber
University:	South Dakota State University
Publication Date:	May 2021
Report #:	MPC-21-435
Project #:	MPC-497
TRID #:	01779094
Keywords:	compaction, cone penetrometers, density, granular materials, test procedures

Abstract

The South Dakota Department of Transportation (SDDOT) has identified a need to reevaluate methods in determining whether granular materials have been compacted to the desired density. Practices of other DOTs indicate additional advantages and disadvantages to various in-situ compaction testing devices. Some DOTs are transitioning to dynamic cone penetrometer and light weight deflectometer methods of testing. Data were analyzed to evaluate the adequacy of using the Ohio Highway Department's Typical Moisture-Density Curves. These data were also analyzed to create a new family of compaction curves based on granular base course and subbase materials previously tested by the SDDOT. The line of optimums of the Ohio Highway Department's Typical Moisture-Density Curves indicates that they may be considered valid for use with the South Dakota base course and subbase granular material. A new family of compaction curves generated from South Dakota base course and subbase granular materials data was also determined to be valid, plotting within the prediction interval.

How to Cite

Jones, Allen, and Jason Weber. Compaction Testing of Granular Material, MPC-21-435. North Dakota State University - Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute, Fargo: Mountain-Plains Consortium, 2021.