Updated_-_31_23_02_-_Compacting_Earth_Materials_Revised_2025_01_14_0003.pdf

GVIC Fish Screen Rehabilitation Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program Solicitation No. 140R4024R0024

Compacting Earth Materials

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SECTION 31 23 02

COMPACTING EARTH MATERIALS

PART 1 GENERAL

1.01 MEASUREMENT AND PAYMENT

A. Select Material:

1. Measurement: Volume measured to the limits and depths directed by the COR for material placed as a result of the COR directing Excavation of Unsuitable Materials, see Section 31 23 11 – Earthwork for Structures.

2. Payment: Cubic yard price offered in the Price Schedule for Select Material.

a. The cubic yard price shall include the cost of all labor, equipment, and material required for furnishing, processing, hauling, placing, and compacting the Select Material.

b. No payment will be made for select material required to fill any over-excavation not prescribed by the COR and performed by the Contractor.

Placing and compacting select material in such over-excavation shall be at the expense of the Contractor.

B. Cost:

1. Include the cost of compacting earth materials in prices offered in price schedules for other items of work that require earth materials to be compacted.

a. Includes furnishing water and moistening materials.

2. The cost of removing the unsuitable material will be included in the Price Schedule for Excavation of Unsuitable Material in Section 31 23 11 – Earthwork for Structures.

1.02 DEFINITIONS

A. Use definitions from ASTM D653 (USBR 3900).

B. Control Fraction: The portion of a soil sample consisting of particles smaller than a designated sieve size. The fraction is used to compare in-place unit weight with standard laboratory unit weight. The control sieve size depends on the laboratory test used to determine laboratory maximum density.

C. C-Value: The ratio expressed as a percentage of (1) in-place unit weight at fill moisture content to (2) the wet unit weight of a laboratory-compacted specimen prepared at fill moisture content as determined by the rapid method of construction control in accordance with ASTM D5080 (USBR7240). The C-Value is a comparison of compactive effort of field compaction equipment to standard laboratory compactive effort.

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D. D-value: The ratio expressed as a percentage of (1) in-place wet unit weight at fill moisture content to (2) laboratory maximum wet unit weight as determined from a compaction curve constructed at fill moisture content as determined by the rapid method of construction control ASTM D5080 (USBR 7240). The D-value is the equivalent of percent compaction in accordance with ASTM D698 (USBR5500).

E. Percent Compaction: The ratio expressed as a percentage of the in-place dry unit weight to the laboratory maximum dry unit weight.

F. Special compaction: Compaction close to structures or in spaces not accessible by standard width rollers.

G. Additional Excavation: Excavation beyond specified lines as directed by the COR to remove unsuitable material.

H. Over-excavation: Excavation performed for the convenience, fault, or operation of the Contractor beyond specified or directed additional excavation lines.

1.03 REFERENCE STANDARDS

A. ASTM International (ASTM)

1. ASTM D653-14 Terminology Relating to Soil, Rock, and

Contained Fluids

2. ASTM D698-12e2 Laboratory Compaction Characteristics of

Soil Using Standard Effort (12,400 ft-lbf/ft3 (600 kN-m/m3))

3. ASTM D1140-14 Determining the Amount of Material in Soils Finer than 75-μm (No. 200) Sieve in Soils by Washing

4. ASTM D1556-07 Density and Unit Weight of Soil in Place by the Sand-Cone Method

5. ASTM D2216-10 Laboratory Determination of Water (Moisture) Content of Soil and Rock by Mass

6. ASTM D2487-11 Classification of Soils for Engineering Purposes (Unified Soil Classification System)

7. ASTM D2488-09a Description and Identification of Soils (Visual-Manual Procedure)

8. ASTM D4318-10 Liquid Limit, Plastic Limit, and Plasticity Index of Soils

9. ASTM D4546-14 One-Dimensional Swell or Collapse of Soils

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10. ASTM D4647/D4647M-13 Identification and Classification of Dispersive Clay Soils by the Pinhole Test

11. ASTM D4718-87(2007) Correction of Unit Weight and Water Content for Soils Containing Oversize Particles

12. ASTM D4914-08 Density and Unit Weight of Soil and Rock in Place by the Sand Replacement Method in a Test Pit

13. ASTM D5030-13a Density of Soil and Rock in Place by the Water Replacement Method in a Test Pit

14. ASTM D5080-08 Rapid Determination of Percent Compaction

15. ASTM D6572-13 Determining Dispersive Characteristics of

Clayey Soils by the Crumb Test

16. ASTM D6938-10 In-Place Density and Water Content of Soil and Soil-Aggregate by Nuclear Methods (Shallow Depth)

17. ASTM D7382-08 Determination of Maximum Dry Unit Weight and Water Content Range for Effective Compaction of Granular Soils Using a Vibrating Hammer

B. Bureau of Reclamation (USBR)

1. USBR EM - Earth Manual, Part 2, Third Edition (1990)

2. Procedure No. and Title:

a. USBR 3900-89 Standard Definitions of Terms and Symbols Relating to Soil Mechanics

b. USBR 5000-86 Determining Unified Soil Classification (Laboratory Method)

c. USBR 5005-86 Determining Unified Soil Classification (Visual Method)

d. USBR 5300-89 Determining Moisture Content of Soil and Rock by the Oven Method

e. USBR 5325-89 Performing Gradation Analysis of Gravel Size Fraction of Soils

f. USBR 5330-89 Performing Gradation Analysis of Fines and Sand Size Fraction of Soils, Including Hydrometer Analysis

g. USBR 5335-89 Performing Gradation Analysis of Soils Without Hydrometer

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h. USBR 5350-89 Determining the Liquid Limit of Soils by the One-Point Method

i. USBR 5360-89 Determining the Plastic Limit and Plasticity Index of Soils

j. USBR 5400-89 Determining Dispersibility of Clayey Soils by the Crumb Test Method

k. USBR 5410-89 Determining Dispersibility of Clayey Soils by the Pinhole Test Method

l. USBR 5500-89 Performing Laboratory Compaction of Soils--5.5-lbm Rammer and 18-in Drop

m. USBR 7205-89 Determining Unit Weight of Soils In-Place by the Sand-Cone Method

n. USBR 7220-89 Determining Unit Weight of Soils In-Place by the Sand Replacement Method in a Test Pit

o. USBR 7221-89 Determining Unit Weight of Soils In-Place by the Water Replacement Method in a Test Pit

p. USBR 7230-89 Determining Unit Weight and Moisture Content of Soil In-Place - Nuclear Moisture- Density Gauge

q. USBR 7240-89 Performing Rapid Method of Construction Control

3. Guidelines for Earthwork Construction Control Testing of Gravelly Soils, Earth Sciences and Research Laboratory, Technical Service Center, Bureau of Reclamation, Denver, Colorado, September 2008.

1.04 SUBMITTALS

A. Submit the following in accordance with Section 01 33 00 - Submittals

B. RSN 31 23 02-1, Compaction Testing Results

1. Results of tests listed in Table 31 23 02A – Contractor Materials Testing

Requirements and Frequency.

2. Include test date, time, location, and person performing tests.

3. Notify COR within 2 hours if testing does not meet specified requirements.

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1.05 AMBIENT CONDITIONS

A. Do not place and compact soil under following conditions:

1. Rain that creates puddles in clayey or silty materials.

2. Heat or wind or both that dries material below specified moisture conditions.

3. Ice, frost, or snow pockets are visible in soil being placed or in underlying materials.

B. Ambient air temperature below freezing may make placement and compaction operations difficult.

1. Minimize interruptions of operations.

2. Continuous operations may be required to eliminate freezing of materials.

3. Obtain COR approval before performing operations when ambient air temperatures are below freezing.

4. Cease operations when placed materials are freezing or below freezing.

PART 2 PRODUCTS

2.01 CLASSIFICATION

A. When required, classify earth materials using the Unified Soil Classification System (USCS) according to ASTM D2487 (USBR 5000) or ASTM D2488 (USBR 5005).

1. Gradation tests for classification: D1140 (USBR 5325, 5330 or 5335).

2. Atterberg limits testing for classification: ASTM D4318 (USBR 5350, 5335, or

5360).

2.02 SOIL TYPES

A. Clean Fill:

1. Any soil except soils with classifications Peat (PT), Organic Silts and Organic

Clays (OL and OH), or Elastic Silt (MH) per ASTM D2487 (USBR 5000).

2. Free of roots, stumps, limbs, vegetation, organic matter, and ice.

3. Does not contain construction debris, scrap materials, refuse, man-made wastes, or chemical or hydro-carbon contamination.

B. Do not use frozen soils.

C. Special Gradations and Plasticity.

1. In some cases, such as embedment for buried pipe, special gradations and/or plasticity characteristics may be required. These requirements are in the applicable Section.

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2.03 DESIGNATION OF SOILS FOR COMPACTION

A. Requirements for lift thickness, method of compaction, and method of determining degree of compaction depends on whether soil is considered to be silty or clayey, cohesionless, or cohesionless containing some silt and clay.

B. Silty or Clayey Soils:

1. Contains appreciable amounts of fines (more than 15 percent plastic fines or 30 percent non-plastic fines).

C. Cohesionless Soils:

1. Contains few fines (less than 5 percent fines).

D. Cohesionless Soils Containing Some Clay and Silt:

1. Contains some clay and silt (between 5 percent fines and 15 percent plastic fines or

30 percent non-plastic fines).

2.04 MAXIMUM PARTICLE SIZE

A. Soil for compacted backfill and embankment:

1. Maximum particle size limitations described in appropriate Sections for backfill against specific structures and in trenches.

2. Otherwise, no cobbles larger than 5-inches or boulders.

2.05 IMPORTED SELECT MATERIAL

A. See Specification Section 31 23 11 Part 2.03 for specifications on the Class 2 Material.

2.06 IMPORTED SUBGRADE MATERIAL

A. See Specification Section 31 23 11 Part 2.04 for specifications on the Class 6 Material.

PART 3 EXECUTION

3.01 SURFACE PREPARATION

A. Clear, grub, and strip.

B. Prepare surface so that first compacted lift will be placed on firm, stable base. Compact surface to specified compaction, if necessary.

C. For water-retaining compacted fill, scarify and moisten surface to provide satisfactory bonding surface before placing layer of material to be compacted.

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3.02 SOIL MOISTURE CONTENT

A. Moisten or aerate material, as necessary, to provide moisture content that will readily facilitate obtaining specified compaction. Add water to soil only in increments that will permit moisture content to be uniform and homogenous throughout each layer after mixing.

B. Silty and Clayey Soils and Cohesionless Soils Containing Some Silt and Clay:

1. Add no more than 2 percent water to fill by sprinkling just prior to compaction when fill is clayey and contains dry clods of clay.

a. If clayey borrow soil is more than 2 percent below optimum moisture, pre-conditioning and curing may be required to obtain uniform and homogenous distribution of moisture in the clods.

b. Use of disks, harrows, or rakes may be required to blend moisture in the borrow area.

2. Moisture content during compaction:

a. Soils controlled by impact compaction.

1) Not greater than 2 percentage points wet or not less than 4 percentage points dry of optimum moisture content.

b. Soils controlled by the vibrating hammer.

1) Within the water content range for effective compaction as determined by ASTM D7382.

C. Cohesionless Soils:

1. Add water during compaction, as necessary since these soils are free draining.

D. Determine moisture with one of the following:

1. ASTM D1556 (USBR 7205).

2. ASTM D4914 (USBR 7220).

3. ASTM D5030 (USBR 7221).

4. ASTM D5080 (USBR 7240).

5. ASTM D2216 (USBR 5300).

6. ASTM D6938 (USBR 7230).

a. Correct moisture from the nuclear gage for gauge error for the specific soils tested and the moisture content of the total material may require adjustment for the control fraction. See ASTM D4718 (USBR 7230, Method-C).

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3.03 PLACEMENT

A. Place soils to be compacted in horizontal layers.

B. If necessary, blend materials so that compacted fill is homogenous and free from lenses, pockets, streaks, voids, laminations, or other imperfections.

3.04 COMPACTION

A. Compact material with following methods and techniques appropriate to type of soil.

B. Silty or clayey material:

1. Compact with mechanical impact tampers, tamping rollers, vibrating pad foot rollers, rubber tire rollers, other suitable compaction equipment, or equipment travel.

a. Uniformly distribute equipment passes.

b. Compact in horizontal layers to compacted thickness of 6 inches or less.

2. Special compaction: Compact with handheld impact tampers, or small tamping equipment.

a. Uniformly distribute effort.

b. Compact in horizontal layers to compacted thickness of 4 inches.

3. Density:

a. Percent Compaction, minimum 90, or

b. D-value:

1) Minimum 90 percent with moisture content 2 to 4 percent dry of optimum.

C. Cohesionless free-draining material:

1. Compact with crawler-type tractors, vibrating drum rollers, surface plate vibrator, or similar equipment.

a. Uniformly distribute equipment passes.

b. Compact in horizontal layers to compacted thickness of 12 inches or less.

2. Special compaction: Compact with handheld impact tampers, vibrating plate tampers, or small tamping equipment.

a. Uniformly distribute effort.

b. Compact in horizontal layers to compacted thickness of 6 inches.

3. Density:

a. Percent Compaction, minimum: 90 percent.

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D. Cohesionless Soils Containing Some Silt and Clay:

1. Compact in accordance with either procedure above.

2. Density:

a. Percent Compaction, minimum: 90 percent.

E. Adjustment:

1. Silty and clayey soils containing more than 20 percent oversize particles:

Required D ratio or Percent Compaction may be adjusted in accordance with appropriate curve on Figure 3 in USBR Guidelines for Earthwork Construction Control Testing of Gravelly Soils.

F. Demonstration:

1. Lift thicknesses may vary depending on equipment and methods. Before changing requirements in this Section, demonstrate that required density will be obtained.

3.05 MEASURE OF COMPACTION

A. Determine unit weight of soils in-place using one of the following methods:

1. Silty or Clayey and Cohesionless Soils:

a. ASTM D1556 (USBR 7205).

b. ASTM D4914 (USBR 7220).

c. ASTM D5030 (USBR 7221).

d. ASTM D6938 (USBR 7230).

B. Determine soil compaction by one of the following.

1. Silty or clayey soils:

a. Percent Compaction:

1) Rapid Method: ASTM D5080 (USBR 7240).

2) Laboratory Compaction Test: Comparison of in-place dry unit weight of minus no. 4 sieve size control fraction to laboratory maximum dry unit weight as determined by ASTM D698, Procedure A (USBR 5500).

2. Cohesionless soils:

a. Percent Compaction: In-place dry unit weight compared to the maximum dry unit weight determined by ASTM D7382.

3. Cohesionless Soils Containing Some Silt and Clay:

a. Use whichever testing procedure result requires higher in-place dry density.

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C. Adjustment:

1. For soils with 5 to 30 percent oversized particles: In-place unit weight of minus

no. 4 size control fraction determined by screening gravel, washing, and determining mass and volume by assuming surface saturated dried moisture as outlined in ASTM D4718 (USBR 7205).

2. For soils containing greater than 30 percent oversized particles: Required D ratio or Percent Compaction may be adjusted in accordance with appropriate curve on Figure 3 in USBR Guidelines for Earthwork Construction Control Testing of Gravelly Soils.

3.06 CONTRACTOR FIELD QUALITY TESTING

A. Testing:

1. Notify the independent testing laboratory and Government 24 hours before compaction work begins and 24 hours before significant change in compaction operations (major change in equipment or procedure used).

2. Notify the independent testing laboratory and Government immediately of equipment change due to breakdown, or re-deployment.

3. Testing Frequency:

a. At a minimum, perform testing at beginning of new work, change in work crew or equipment.

b. After a successful work operation pattern is established, testing frequency shall be performed at the discretion of the COR.

c. Perform additional tests at sites considered questionable by the

Government, such as suspected incomplete compaction, surfaces that may have become excessively wet or dry since compaction, compacted surfaces torn up by subsequent equipment travel, or other similar circumstances. Frequency of additional testing is at discretion of the Government.

Table 31 23 02A – Contractor Materials Testing Requirements

PROCEDURE TEST

STANDARD

STANDARD TITLE

Soil Classification ASTM D2487

ASTM D2488

Classification of Soils for Engineering Purposes

Description and Identification of Soils

Moisture Content ASTM D2216 Laboratory Determination of Water (Moisture Content of Soil and Rock by Mass.

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Table 31 23 02A – Contractor Materials Testing Requirements

PROCEDURE TEST

STANDARD

STANDARD TITLE

Laboratory Compaction (Standard Effort)

ASTM D698,

Procedure A.

Laboratory Compaction Characteristics of Soil Using Standard Effort

Laboratory Compaction (Vibratory Hammer)

ASTM D7382 Standard Test Methods for Determination of Maximum Dry Unit Weight and Water Content Range for Effective Compaction of Granular Soils Using a Vibrating Hammer

Oversized Correction ASTM D4718 Correction of Unit Weight and Water Content for Soils Containing Oversize Particles

Rock Factor USBR Guidelines for Earthwork Construction Control Testing of Gravelly Soils

Sand Cone

ASTM D1556 Density and Unit Weight of Soil in Place by the Sand-Cone Method

Rapid Construction Control

ASTM D5080 Rapid Determination of Percent Compaction

Nuclear Method

ASTM D6938 In-Place Density and Water Content of Soil and Soil-Aggregate by Nuclear Methods (Shallow Depth)

3.07 GOVERNMENT CONTRACT FIELD QUALITY ASSURANCE

A. The Government may perform tests as required to verify contractor quality testing. If the Government performs quality assurance testing, provide support as required for contractor quality testing.

END OF SECTION

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