Effects of Poor Compaction

In the slide above, you see six examples of structures that have been compromised because of poorly compacted soil.

In the first example, a structure has cracked due to the soil below it failing due to lack of compaction. In the second example, a concrete slab has cracked due to poor soil underneath it. The third example shows the joint in a pipeline which could separate due to poor supporting soil. The fourth example shows a foundation cracking and falling away due to the soil settling. The fifth example shows a concrete block designed to support a structure tipped to one side as the soil is not supporting it evenly. The last example shows a trench settling, which jeopardizes the pipe that runs through it.

STUDY QUESTIONS:

What is the basic meaning of compaction?

How is compaction normally produced in soil?

How does compaction differ from consolidation?

What are some effects of poor soil compaction?