ISSN: 2277-9655 [Elarabi * et al., 7(1): January, 2018] Impact Factor: 5.164 IC™ Value: 3.00 CODEN: IJESS7 http: // www.ijesrt.com © International Journal of Engineering Sciences & Research Technology [645] IJESRT INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENGINEERING SCIENCES & RESEARCH TECHNOLOGY THE EFFECT OF COMPACTED FILL LAYERS ON SOIL BEARING CAPACITY H. Elarabi *1 & E. Yahya 2 *1 Associate Professor at Building and Road Research Institute, University of Khartoum. 2 M.Sc. Building Technology at Building and Road Research Institute, U of K DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.1161703 ABSTRACT In this paper, plate load test was used to study the effect of compacted fill layers on bearing capacity. The test was developed using selected soil from HATTAB source. The soil was classified as low plastic soil, silty or clayey gravel with CBR 16% filled in trench foundation. Plate load test was carried out on each layer. Sand cone test also was done for each layer to determine the field density value. The analysis of results obtained from the experimental program showed that, settlement of layer decreases as the number of layers increased. The bearing capacity of layers increased as the number of layers increased; this situation is valid for certain thickness after which no considerable effect was recorded. KEYWORDS: Compacted Fill Layers, Plate Load Test, Bearing Capacity. I. INTRODUCTION Foundations of engineering structures are designed to transfer and distribute their loading to the underlying soil and/or rock. This design is required to satisfy three main design criteria, namely the ultimate bearing capacity of the foundations (i.e. strength); the total and differential settlements (i.e. serviceability); and the economic feasibility of the foundation. This paper focuses on the first of these criteria that is the ultimate bearing capacity of shallow foundations and, in particular, foundations on cohesive and cohesive-frictional soil. Bearing capacity failure occurs as the soil supporting the foundation fails in shear, which may involve either a general, local or punching shear failure mechanism. This paper, however, focuses on the effect of compacted fill layers on soil bearing capacity of a multi-layered compacted soil. II. SITE PREPARATION Selected materials were brought from HATTAB source which is not far from Khartoum (Capital of Sudan), only 35 km away from Khartoum Airport. HATTAB Soil characterized by the quality of the soil, especially for purposes of backfilling and compaction, The foundation was prepared as shown in figure (1) below which is describing test sequence that can be considered real soil bearing capacity at each point  Total depth = 2.4 m  Area = 7.5 m²  Slope = 1:2 (Accessibility) III. PLATE LOAD TEST Gravity loading or reaction loading method was used by constructed loading platform over the column placed on the test plate and test load is applied by placing dead weight in the form of concrete blocks. Hydraulic jack was placed between the loading platform and the column top for applying the load to the test plate. The reaction of the hydraulic jack being borne by the loaded platform. This form of loading is termed as