Compaction of frozen soil
Compaction of frozen soil
(OP)
I have tried to find information on the compactability of frozen soil. I can not find anything that would help the technicians explain to the contractors that the soil will either not compact or will required additional effort to achieve the specified results. I have tried to experiment with running proctors on frozen soils, using sand and clayey sand. The results were inconclusive. I did not have the most controlled environment to perform this study. I would like to know a certain temperature of the soil that would make for difficult compacton procedure. I know this will be different for each type of soil.





RE: Compaction of frozen soil
Maybe if you are using dry pea gravel you may have success using material that is frozen, but if the soil has any fines and is frozen it is unlikely the material can be compacted.
If someone finds a way to compact frozen soil they could start a whole new industry!
Regards,
Carl
RE: Compaction of frozen soil
Here's where you run into problems filling in cold weather:
I've been on more than one project where the fill reads 95% or better, but there is a lot of movememt (pumping and yeilding; deflection), and I have to fail them anyway because the soil isn't 'firm and stable'. Obviously, your base won't move that way when it's frozen, so you won't be able to spot when this happens. This would be especially bad in, say, a parking lot, where you are using crushed rock, which is a very dense layer and does compact on a softer base. As soon as that ice thaws, wham! Instant recipe for potholes. And I've seen some pretty big potholes.
What it will really come down to in the end, I think, is the quality of the companies you work with. Winter construction work is always gruelling, and the contractor, if they have any useful experience, should know this already.
RE: Compaction of frozen soil
RE: Compaction of frozen soil
RE: Compaction of frozen soil
RE: Compaction of frozen soil
I am building a concrete patio approximately 14 inches from grade. I have filled the area with pea gravel except the outside permimeter where I have left a 1-foot width for solid concrete. My question is what is the best method to compact the pea gravel prior to filling with concrete?
RE: Compaction of frozen soil
In the construction industry, pea gravel is said to be compact as it is dumped into the ditch. It is common to place it around a pipe without any compaction whatsoever.
I just recently heard, however- in fact, I think today, that there is a locality that uses 'stingers' to compact their pea gravel. A stinger, as was explained to me, is a hollow metal rod with small holes in one end and a hose attachment at the other. The idea is to stick the spray-end in the pea gravel (or other fill), and it is compacted by lubricating the fill and allowing it to settle on its own.
As a footnote, it occurs to me that concrete would probably soak into that pea gravel pretty well. If you pour your concrete so that it flows out of the chute (as opposed to 'breaking off'), it seems like in the end you would have some pretty sturdy pea gravel. Watch out, though. The more water you add to your concrete, the weaker its compressive strength. Good luck!
RE: Compaction of frozen soil