Quality of compacted fills is essential to the proper functioning of a structure as a whole. Currently, quality control is achieved by testing to determine the deviation of moisture content of recently compacted soil in relation to optimum moisture and degree of compaction reached. Based on the results, deformability, permeability and strength related characteristics are inferred. However, data obtained by using this technique do not always reflect actual behavior of soil, and are only applicable during the construction phase. More elaborate field tests are generally used only when problems are detected at completed landfills, but such tests may also be of great value during execution, since they provide soil geotechnical parameters, thus enabling control based on behavior rather than just physical properties. This study examined the application of correlations developed by several authors for estimating OCR by DMT in compacted fills. The results showed that dilatometer testing (DMT) is a potential tool for control of compaction and should be further studied, particularly in relation to the effects of suction on DMT results.

Keywords: DMT, compacted fills, OCR, suction, correlations, control of compaction,

Submitted on November 18, 2010.
Final Acceptance on August 06, 2012.
Discussion open until December 29, 2012.