Compacting Characteristics of Light Compacting Equipment

Abstract

The inadequate of compaction of backfills near abutments, approach areas of culverts, and smaller widened portions of roads result in settlement of layers and premature failure of pavement. Compaction in these constrained areas is difficult because of the difficulty in maneuvering of compacting equipment such as heavy rollers. Various types of light compacting equipment like rammers, vibratory plate compactors, single-drum walk-behind rollers, and double-drum walk-behind rollers are being used for compaction of the materials in constrained areas. Locally available loamy soil was compacted to different layer thicknesses of 50, 100, 150, and 200 mm using selected plate compactors, single-drum walk-behind rollers, and double-drum walk-behind rollers. Field moisture–density relationships for this equipment are established. The studies indicate that the roller optimum moisture content (ROMC) is higher than the optimum moisture content (OMC) of Proctor compaction even after 10 passes for all the light compacting equipment used. The regression equations developed for predicting field density as a function of compacting moisture content in the field, number of passes, and thickness of layer for all the light compacting equipment can be used during construction.