Reposted from the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering.

Soil compaction is essential for stabilizing infrastructure foundations, yet current practices often rely on mere experience and intuition rather than quantifiable data, leading to under- or over-compaction and other inefficiencies. Supported by a new $450,000 grant from the National Science Foundation, researchers at the University of Utah are seeking to better understand the movements of individual soil particles in the hopes of transforming a critical process in civil infrastructure.

Led by Tong Qiu, professor and chair of the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, the research uses sensors to study how soil particles move (kinematics) during compaction. The goal is to develop more efficient and sustainable construction practices.

Qui, who joined U College of Engineering this year after 14 years with Penn State, hypothesizes that particle kinematics—rather than surface settlement—can provide a more accurate measure of soil compaction. His team will test this by using advanced sensors like geophones, accelerometers and SmartRocks to track soil particle behavior during compaction. The data will then help refine computer models, making simulations of real-world conditions with vibratory rollers more accurate.

A potential benefit of the research would be to reduce carbon footprint of construction since over- or under-compaction lead to wasted time, materials and energy. By accurately measuring soil particle movement during compaction, the research could help minimize the need for rework, reducing the use of heavy greenhouse-gas-emitting machinery and lowering overall energy and material consumption, all of which lower the environmental impact.