Abstract

Compaction is one of the essential engineering techniques, performed to assure the stability of soils based on specified strength. However, in most construction projects such as large-scale projects, obtaining the desired compaction characteristics, namely optimum moisture content (OMC) and maximum dry density (MDD), becomes time-consuming. In this case, predicting the compaction characteristics from the Atterberg's limits that involve a more straightforward and quicker method of testing becomes a vital task. This study focused on obtaining valid correlations between Atterberg's limit parameters and compaction characteristics of fine-grained soils. A series of laboratory tests for 50 samples conducted for the investigation. Statistical relationships of all the parameters were analyzed. The laboratory test results indicated that both OMC and MDD showed a strong correlation with LL and PL together using multiple linear regressions than with single parameters from single linear regression. Therefore, the study concluded that during the prediction of OMC and MDD from Atterberg's limits, the combined parameters of Atterberg's limits should be used rather than single parameters. It is recommended, the result of this research could be applied in different civil engineering practices, directly related to the parameters to be known.