Influence of Compaction Energy and Bentonite Clay Content in the Soil Hydraulic Conductivity

Abstract

This paper intends to evaluate changes in permeability of a soil sample from Formação Barreiras, in Natal, the capital city of Rio Grande do Norte State, related to the degree of compaction and the adding of clay to the soil sample. In field works, samples were collected and permeability and density tests were performed. In laboratory, grain size distribution, Attemberg limits and particle density tests were conducted. Afterwards, compaction and permeability tests fulfilled the set of laboratory tests, with changes in compactive energy and sample clay content. The results from field and laboratory tests were compared and the relationship between compaction energy and sample clay content were portrayed. The soil was classified as silty sand. Field and laboratory test results were quite similar. As expected, the tests indicated that permeability is inversely proportional to both compaction energy and sample clay content in the soil tested.