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Soil Stiffness Gauge for
Soil Compaction Control
by Scott Fiedler, Charles Nelson, E. Frank
Berkman, and Al DiMillio
As with most construction today, the emphasis on cost control
and quality control of soil is prompting the implementation of mechanistic
designs, performance specifications, and contractor warranties. The Federal
Highway Administration’s cooperative development of a soil stiffness gauge
will enable the validation of design models, the development of performance
specifications, and contractor process control for compacted soil structures.
Background
Compacted soil is an essential element in the construction of highways,
airports, buildings, sewers, and bridges. Even though soil density is
not the most desired engineering property, it is used almost exclusively
by the transportation industry to specify, estimate, measure, and control
soil compaction. This practice was adopted many years ago because soil
density can be easily determined via weight and volume measurements.
Textbook authors Holtz and Kovacs state, "Since the objective
of compaction is to stabilize soils and improve their engineering properties,
it is important to keep in mind the desired engineering properties of
the fill, not just its dry density and water content. This point is often
lost in earthwork construction control.” 1
When soil is compacted for pavements, pipe bedding and
backfill, and foundations, the desired engineering properties are the
soil modulus or soil stiffness.
State departments of transportation and contractors suggest
that the present methods for measuring density are slow, labor-intensive,
dangerous, and/or of uncertain accuracy. Hence, construction sites are
often undersampled, causing inadequate compaction to go undetected or
feedback to be provided too late for the cost-effective correction of
problems. Sometimes, the opposite is true. Designers are encouraged to
overspecify to allow for the significant variability of the finished product,
and contractors are encouraged to overcompact to ensure acceptance and
avoid rework. All of which means added cost to the owner.
To eliminate overspecification and overcompaction, statistical
quality control can be implemented on civil works projects. The benefit
of better quality control is illustrated in figure 1. The normal distribution
curve, labeled “Typical Soil Data,” is for 140 measurements taken in sandy
soil on an interceptor sewer project. The mean modulus is 67.7 megapascals
(MPa) (9,830 pounds per square inch), and the standard deviation is 12.9
MPa (1,872 psi); therefore, the coefficient of variation is about 19 percent.
About 95 percent of the measurements are greater than the hypothetical
“Design Modulus” of 46.5 MPa (6,750 psi) for the pipe bedding.
Assume that, by instituting a measurement and quality control
program, the standard deviation could be reduced to 8.8 MPa (1,275 psi).
Then, it would be possible for the contractor to use less compactive effort
(number of compactor passes), reducing the average soil modulus to 61.0
MPa (8,850 psi) while maintaining the passing tests at the 95-percent
level and saving cost.
Using
the Soil Stiffness Gauge
The typical sequence of operations to make a good measurement
with SSG are as follows:
- Clean ring foot of soil.
- Turn on SSG. (Press "On" button.)
- Prepare the surface to be tested.
- Smooth the surface with the side of your boot.
- Coarse aggregate or stiff clay may require sand to be
sprinkled.
- Ensure the gauge has clearance on the side.
- Seat the foot. (Place the ring foot on the soil, and twist
the gauge 90 degrees back and forth two to five times using
minimal to about 15 pounds of force, depending upon the granularity
and softness of the soil.
- Enter Data. (Enter target stiffness, Poisson's ratio, and/or
site identifiers from scrolled list via SSG display.)
- Take the measurement. (Press "Meas" button. SSG will measure
site noise and stiffness as a function of frequency. The gauge
will display average stiffness, lb/in (MN/m) or modulus, psi
(MPa) or percentage of target. If construction noise is present,
try to take the test at a distance greater than 25 meters from
the operating equipment.)
- Store Data. (Press "Save" button. More than 200 measurements
are displayed in the operational mode, and 10 measurements of
complex, frequency-dependent components are displayed in the
research mode.)
- Remove SSG from the soil. (Ensure that 50 to 60 percent of
the ring foot is in contact with the soil.)
- Transfer data. (Standard infrared link, same as used in many
nuclear density gauges.)
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In addition to the time and cost advantages, a portable
soil stiffness gauge that is quick and easy to use will save lives and
reduce exposure to injuries by enabling the technician to conduct each
test rapidly. Many technicians, preoccupied with performing a nuclear
density test or other quality assurance method, failed to hear or see
approaching heavy construction vehicles and were run over.
In one incident in which the technician was killed, the
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission sent inspectors to investigate because
the gauge was crushed, exposing the gauge’s radioactive elements — cesium
and americium. The potential for accidents involving radioactivity add
significantly to the already tedious safety precautions and record-keeping.
A non-nuclear method is in great demand.
Soil Stiffness Gauge
In response to this need for a faster, cheaper, safer, and more accurate
compaction testing device, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) joined
with the U.S. Department of Defense’s Advanced Research Programs Administration
(ARPA) to co-sponsor a study to investigate the possible use of military
technology to solve this problem. As part of the defense reinvestment
initiatives and using funds from the Technology Reinvestment Project,
ARPA authorized FHWA researchers to supervise the redesign of a military
device that used acoustic and seismic detectors to locate buried land
mines.
FHWA’s partners in this cooperative research and development
project were Humboldt Manufacturing Co. of Chicago, Ill.; Bolt, Beranek
& Newman (BBN) of Cambridge, Mass.; and CNA Consulting Engineers of Minneapolis,
Minn.
The result of this cooperative development is the Soil
Stiffness Gauge (SSG), shown in figure 2. SSG measures the in-place stiffness
of compacted soil at the rate of about one test per minute. SSG weighs
about 11.4 kilograms (kg), is 28 centimeters (cm) in diameter, is 25.4
cm tall, and rests on the soil surface via a ring–shaped foot.
The prototype model was modified to make a soil stiffness
gauge that is portable, lightweight, and safe to use. Resting on the soil
surface, SSG produces a vibrating force that is measured by sensors that
record the force and displacement-time history of the foot.
The device has been “beta-tested” by FHWA and several state
highway agencies. Thousands of soil stiffness measurements have been successfully
made at highway embankment sites and pipe backfill sites on sand, clay,
and sandy loam soils. When converted to density values using correlation
charts, these measurements are within 5 percent of measurements made with
a nuclear density gauge.
Production devices are being made for further evaluation
at sites representing a cross section of U.S. applications and soils.
Future models will include on-board moisture measurement instruments and
a global positioning system.
Method
The stiffness is the ratio of the force to displacement: K=P/d. SSG produces
soil stress and strain levels common for pavement, bedding, and foundation
applications. It is a practical, dynamic equivalent to a plate load test.
Figure 3 compares SSG to a plate load test. In both cases, a force P is
applied to the soil via a plate or ring. The soil deflects an amount d,
which is proportional to the foot geometry, Young’s modulus, and Poisson’s
ratio of the soil. The soil stiffness, as measured by SSG, also relates
to shear modulus, void ratio, and density. Figure 4 presents the basic
relationship.2
Technology
Plate load tests are commonly conducted by jacking against a large, loaded
truck (to provide a reaction to P), while taking great care to measure
the deflection. Large forces are necessary to produce enough deflection
to measure. SSG uses technology borrowed from the defense industry to
measure very small deflections, allowing much smaller loads. SSG does
not measure the deflection resulting from the SSG weight. Rather, SSG
vibrates, producing small changes in P that produce small deflections.
To filter out the deflections resulting from equipment operating nearby,
SSG measures over a frequency range. Figure 5 is a schematic of SSG showing
the major internal components. Not shown are the D–cell batteries that
power it. The foot bears directly on the soil and supports the weight
of the device via several rubber isolators. Also attached to the foot
are the shaker that drives the foot and sensors that measure the force
and displacement-time history of the foot.
Table 1 — Organizations Interested in SSG Use or Evaluation |
Interested
Organizations |
States
Represented |
Engineers |
Ala., Ark.,
Calif., Ill., Ind., Ky., La., Md., Mich., Minn., Neb., Ohio, Texas |
Construction
suppliers |
Minn.,
Ohio, Texas |
Universities |
Alaska,
Ga., Iowa, Minn., Mo., Utah |
Departments
of Transportation |
Ala., Calif.,
Del., Ga., Ill., La., Mich., N.C., N.J., Pa., Va. |
Contractors |
Ala., Calif.,
Colo., Minn., Pa., Wis. |
Calibration
SSG is calibrated via the force-to-displacement produced by moving a known
mass. The value of the mass is precisely known and is less susceptible
to change than a reference elastomeric pad or soil sample. Calibration
in the lab or office requires a mass of sufficient size to represent a
typical range of soil stiffness — e.g., 10 kg represents approximately
4 meganewtons per meter (MN/m) at 100 hertz (Hz) and 16 MN/m at 200 Hz.
The mass is approximately the same shape as SSG’s foot and is rigidly
bolted to the foot during calibration. SSG, with the mass attached, is
supported in the upright position off of a rigid floor by a very compliant
fixture. The fixture is sufficiently compliant so that the mass is effectively
unrestrained in the measurement frequency band.
The calibration is performed by pressing the “Cal” button
on the SSG display. SSG compares the measured effective stiffness of the
mass against what is expected. A simple frequency-dependent correction
is recorded. Note: During factory calibration, a software correction is
made to account for the effect that the mass of the foot has on stiffness
measurements.
Development Approach
SSG was developed from a comprehensive application, market, and technology
knowledge base. The development began with an FHWA contract to BBN in
cooperation with CNA. Similar to the Strategic Highway Research Program,
the purpose of this contract was to infuse new technology into the transportation
industry. Specifically, technology proven in the detection of nonmetallic
land mines for the U.S. Army was to be transitioned to the application
of soil compaction evaluation in the field. Successful proof-of-principle
demonstrations were performed by BBN on a significant range of soil types
and conditions. This success prompted the consortium led by BBN to recruit
Humboldt Manufacturing Co. to commercialize SSG.
Prototype gauges have been manufactured, and they have
been or are being evaluated by FHWA; the departments of transportation
of Minnesota, New York, and Texas; and the University of Massachusetts.
These field evaluations are quantifying how well SSG performs in practice
on a broad range of soils, applications, and conditions.
The plan for the next construction season calls for sending
12 to 24 gauges to sites representing a cross section of U.S. applications
and soils for the following purposes:
- To begin characterizing local soil stiffness to facilitate
the current move towards more cost-effective design and specification
of highways and buried structures.
- To demonstrate the cost and quality benefits of controlling
soil stiffness/modulus in the field.
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Numerous organizations in various states have expressed an interest in
evaluating or using SSG for these purposes. Discussions with many of them
have been initiated to coordinate SSG use during the upcoming construction
season. Table 1 illustrates the diversity of these organizations.
The consortium has initiated the process for standardizing
the method embodied in SSG with both the American Association of State
Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) and the American Society
for Testing and Materials (ASTM).
In the coming year, work will be initiated to bring the
following capabilities to SSG:
- Measurement of on-board moisture.
- Measurement of asphalt stiffness.
- Integration with compaction equipment.
- Graphical data-processing software to facilitate statistical
process control.
- On-board global positioning system.
- Measurement of depths greater than 30 cm.
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Progress
A good example of SSG performance to date is the Minnesota Department
of Transportation’s (MnDOT) trunk highway 610 project in Brooklyn Park,
Minn. This work measures the soil properties (modulus, stiffness, water
content, density, etc.) of reinforced concrete pipe (RCP) bedding and
backfill and of the response of RCP to soil overfill. About 1006 meters
of arch and round RCP have been placed to carry water from a wetlands
mitigation site east to the interchange of trunk highway 610 and state
Route 252.
Table 2 — SSG Accuracy (Projection Based on Field Use to Date) |
Component |
Definition |
Example
re 4.1 MPa* |
Traceability
of a Single Measurement (T) |
Meas. -
Actual |
0.08 |
Measurement
Repeatability (R) |
(2s) x
Avg. |
0.10 |
Total Error
(TE) |
(T2+R2)½ |
0.13 |
Accuracy |
(TE/Actual)
x 100 |
3.2% |
*the lowest level that SSG can reliably measure |
At one MnDOT site (figure 6), more than 1,300 soil stiffness
measurements have been made successfully using SSG. Testing was conducted
on sand, clay, sandy loam, and mixtures of these soils in an in situ and
compacted state. Soil stiffness and moduli at this site range from 0.5
to 22.1 MN/m (3,000 to 126,000 lb/in) and from 4.1 to 192.9 MPa (600 to
28,000 psi). The variability in soil stiffness (figure 7) along the bedding
was surprising even to MnDOT.
This site illustrated well the need for specified performance
as opposed to specified methods of compaction. It also illustrated how
SSG could enable the statistical quality control of specified performance.
The relationship between stiffness and density (figure 8) also proved
to be well-behaved.
Figure 9 illustrates how soil stiffness measurements can
be used in controlling road construction. In this example, an actual compacted
roadbed has been excavated; a drainage pipe installed; and soil reinstated,
but not fully compacted. A medium-size vibrating roller was used to complete
the compaction as stiffness measurements were made with SSG. The figure
shows that the reinstated soil required additional compaction and that
the undisturbed soil, adjacent to the trench, was overcompacted. Hence,
the pavement added later would experience stress concentration and, possibly,
premature failure because of the two stiff trench sides with softer soil
between. Companion density measurements were not so revealing.
The SSG evaluations to date suggest the measurement accuracy
illustrated in table 2.
SSG Performance Specifications |
The version of SSG that is currently under development will be available
for use early this coming construction season and is designed to
perform as specified below: |
Soil
Stiffness |
Stiffness |
3 MN/m (17k
lbf) to 22.1 MN (126k lbf) |
Modulus |
26.2 MPa
(3.8k lbf/in2) to 193 MPa (28k lbf/in2) |
Measurement
Accuracy
(typ., % of absolute) |
<±5% |
Depth
of Measurement |
10.2 to
15.2 cm (4 to 6 in)
(a function of foot outside diameter and SSG mass) |
Laboratory
Calibration |
Accuracy
(% of actual mass) |
<±2% |
Range
(effective) |
4 to 16
MN/m (22.8 to 91.4 lb/in) |
Electrical |
Power Source |
6 D-size
disposable cells |
Battery
Life |
Sufficient
for 6,700 measurements |
Mechanical |
External
Materials |
Aluminum
case & foot |
Rubber
isolators |
Vibration |
0.1 in
@ 125 Hz |
Level re
Vertical |
±5° |
Operating
Temp. |
0°C
to 38°C (ambient) |
Storage
Temperature |
-20°C
to 50°C |
Humidity |
98%, without
condensation |
Gauge Size
(without handle) |
28 cm (11
in) OD |
Gauge Height
(without handle) |
25.4 cm
(10 in) H |
Weight |
11.4 kg
(~ 25 lb) |
Shipping
Weight (with case) |
16 kg (~
35 lb) |
Standard
Accessories |
Transit
Case |
|
Infrared
Data Link |
(PC side
& rudimentary software) |
Optional
Accessories |
Laboratory
Calibration |
10 kg (~22
lb) mass |
Mass &
Fixture |
|
The
performance specified above Is preliminary and subject to change. |
Conclusion
Soil stiffness is the desired engineering property when soil is compacted
for construction projects. However, until now, engineers have used soil
density as a measure of soil compaction because there was no easy method
for measuring soil stiffness. Measuring soil density is slow, labor-intensive,
and potentially dangerous. The new lightweight, portable soil stiffness
gauge not only provides a means to measure the desired engineering property,
but it is faster, cheaper, safer, and more accurate than the current standard
methods.
References
- Robert D. Holtz and William D. Kovacs. An Introduction to Geotechnical
Engineering, 1981, p. 141.
-
-
Roman D. Hryciw and Thomas G. Thomann. “Stress-History-Based
Model for Cohesionless Soils,” Journal of Geotechnical Engineering,
Vol. 119, No., 7, July 1993.
Scott Fiedler is a product manager for Humboldt
Manufacturing Co. in Norridge, Ill.
Charles Nelson is president of CNA Consulting Engineers
in Minneapolis, Minn.
E. Frank Berkman is vice president of BBN Systems
and Technologies in Cambridge, Mass.
Al DiMillio is the federal program manager for geotechnical
engineering research for the Federal Highway Administration at the Turner-Fairbank
Highway Research Center in McLean, Va.
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