Basic question regarding compaction
Basic question regarding compaction
(OP)
Hi, we work on solidification of liquid waste, and we are looking for potential ways of using our solidified material. We get asked about the compactibility of our material very often, but I do not have expertise in this field and was hoping to get some help. The material that we end up with is not like a soil where you can dry it, add moisture back, and do a proctor test. The material that we have would form clumps when dried. and it does not rehydrate like a soil would. This solidified material will pass paint filter test and is typically landfilled, but it would be great if we can use it as backfill or something so that it's not going to waste. We have another reagent that can turn the liquid waste into a paste like material (like working cement) and becomes hard after it dries. However, I don't know what specs there are to allow us to use this material for other purposes. For example, would it be helpful if we tested the compression strength and said "our material, once dried, can withstand a compression force of X PSI"?
Anyway, I may not have been super clear with my question, but any advice and further discussion would be greatly appreciated!
Anyway, I may not have been super clear with my question, but any advice and further discussion would be greatly appreciated!





RE: Basic question regarding compaction
RE: Basic question regarding compaction
RE: Basic question regarding compaction
RE: Basic question regarding compaction
RE: Basic question regarding compaction
You will also need to check for shrinkage and for swelling. Both are important parameters for soils and fill materials.
You don't need to make a slab of the material. Call a local materials testing lab and let them mold the samples and do the tests. They are not that expensive and for a few hundred dollars you can get a lot of data.
RE: Basic question regarding compaction
RE: Basic question regarding compaction
RE: Basic question regarding compaction
A proctor is performed to help determine the relationship between % moisture vs. density, thus telling you the maximum compaction.
The compression test is performed to tell you the strength (psi) of the material. You can perform multiple samples at different moisture levels to help determine the compressive strength of the material. As mentioned earlier, you can see what amount of Portland cement it takes to increase the strength to the desired levels.
The procedures for each test a spelled out from ASTM. As for the desired strengths you are looking for that is determined by project needs.
I can't really speak on strength requirements, but for a lot of slabs and structures 4,000 psi is a good level to aim for. As for use a fills it would mostly come down to cost (cost of your stuff vs. cost of borrow fill).
--morgwreck243
RE: Basic question regarding compaction