Influence of moisture content on intelligent soil compaction

The intelligent compaction (IC) technology has been demonstrated as a powerful tool for soil compaction. However, the correlation between IC measurement values (ICMV) and in-situ tests has not been always consistent due to the influence of moisture content. The same density can be obtained at two different moisture contents on either side of the optimum moisture content, whereas without the same modulus. In this study, the influence of moisture contents on ICMV and in-situ point measurement values were examined by both in-situ and laboratory tests. By using the compaction curves from the gyratory compactor and field compaction, the impact of different moisture contents on soil modulus was identified, and the sensitivity of ICMV on the soil density and deflection due to varying moisture contents was explained. Another laboratory test, the vibratory compaction, could offer the target ICMV value from a modulus versus water content curve. Based on the test results in this study, an improved IC soil compaction system including laboratory test validations was suggested to identify the soil compactability and the target value at varying moisture contents.