Dans le contexte du développement durable, et dans un objectif de limitation de l’impact environnemental, le recours à des sols fins prend une place croissante dans la construction d’ouvrages en terre. Mais la maîtrise de ces matériaux amène au cours de l’exécution des difficultés lors du compactage, telles que le feuilletage et le matelassage. Au sein du projet ANR TerreDurable, cette thèse vise à l’étude du compactage, plus particulièrement pour les marnes proches de la saturation. Le programme d’essais se base principalement sur les observations apportées par les praticiens (Vinci Construction Terrassement, Valerian, Egis Géotechnique), pour parvenir à des essais mettant en évidence difficultés et mauvais usages rencontrés. Après une discussion sur l’effet des méthodes de contrôle de succion sur la nucléation dans les sols fins, l’étude porte sur une planche de compactage in situ. Elle s’articule autour de 4 paramètres : teneur en eau, mouture, type de compacteur et énergie de compactage. Ces variations mènent à la réalisation de 24 plots sortants parfois du cadre règlementaire, incarné en France par le Guide des Terrassements Routiers (GTR). Une fois terminés, et après des observations visuelles, les plots subissent carottages et pénétromètres dynamiques pour évaluer l’état et la réponse hydromécanique du matériau. Les mesures recueillies permettent de fournir des informations quant aux bonnes pratiques de compactage, mais aussi vis-à-vis des variables d’état du sol selon le jeu de paramètre. Dans un deuxième temps, l'effet de la préparation du matériau est étudié dans la cadre d'essais Proctor et IPI. Le matériau de chaque essai est alors exploité pour la réalisation de courbes de retentions dans le domaine quasi saturé. Toutes ces mesures sont alors comparées à la planche, de manière à cadrer les essais de cette dernière et confirmer les observations faites en première instance. Pour finir, une cellule triaxiale de révolution est développée dans l'objectif d’étudier l’évolution des variables d’état du sol au cours du compactage. Elle présente un tensiomètre à sa base, mais aussi des fenêtres planes en plexiglas pour permettre l’utilisation de la corrélation d’images pour l’estimation des changements de volume. Ces fenêtres ont pour objectif de limiter les déformations optiques et faciliter la mesure. La conception et la calibration de la cellule sont présentées, tout en mettant en avant sa précision. Sont alors réalisés les premiers essais de reproduction du compactage, basés sur des références in situ. Malgré les difficultés rencontrées pour simuler les passes d’un compacteur au sein de la cellule, les essais apportent des éléments de réflexion quant à l’effet de ce dernier sur le sol. / In the context of sustainable development, and to limit environmental impact, usage of fine-grained soils takes an expending place in earthworks. Sadly, the control of such materials through construction leads to difficulties during compaction, such as lamination and wave effect. As part of the French ANR project TerreDurable, this thesis aims to research compaction, mostly marls close to saturation. Observations carried out by practitioners serves as base for the experimental programme (Vinci Construction Terrassement, Valerian, Egis Géotechnique), to achieve surveys showing the main known difficulties and poor usages. After a discussion on the effect of measurement methods on nucleation in fine-grained soils, the study follows a full-scale in situ compaction test, articulated around four parameters: water content, grinding, compactor type and compaction energy. These variations lead 24 parcels sometimes out of the French legal frame (Guide des Terrassement Routiers). After realisation and visual observations, each of the parcels undergoes samplings and dynamic penetrometers to evaluate their state and hydro mechanical response. These analyses give data regarding good compaction practice, but also soil state variables after compaction. Then, proctor and CBR tests first show the effect of soil preparation on their outcomes. Afterwards, retention curves in the quasi-saturated domain are conducted from the Proctors. These measures compared to the full scale in situ compaction test, provide a frame to its results and confirm initial observations. Finally, aiming to study state variables evolution during compaction, a triaxial cell is developed. Equipped with a tensiometer at its base, flat Plexiglas windows are created enabling digital image correlation (DIC) for volume changes assessments. These windows allow for limited optical deformations and measurement facilitation. The conception and the calibration of the cell are presented to evaluate its precision. Then, the first tests to reproduce compaction, based on in-situ references, are carried out. Despite difficulties to simulate compactor passes in the cell, it provided elements of reflexion regarding the effect of compaction.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / A procedure for calibrating a discrete element (DE) computational soil model for various moisture contents using a conventional Asperity-Spring friction modeling technique is presented in this thesis. The procedure is based on the outcomes of two physical soil experiments: (1) Compression and (2) unconfined shear strength at various levels of normal stress and normal pre-stress. The Compression test is used to calibrate the DE soil plastic strain and elastic strain as a function of Compressive stress. To calibrate the DE inter-particle friction coefficient and adhesion stress as a function of soil plastic strain, the unconfined shear test is used. This thesis describes the experimental test devices and test procedures used to perform the physical terramechanical experiments. The calibration procedure for the DE soil model is demonstrated in this thesis using two types of soil: sand-silt (2NS Sand) and silt-clay(Fine Grain Soil) over 5 different moisture contents: 0%, 4%, 8%, 12%, and 16%. The DE based models response are then validated by comparing them to experimental pressure-sinkage results for circular disks and cones for those two types of soil over 5 different moisture contents. The Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE) during the compression calibration was 26.9% whereas during the unconfined shear calibration, the MAPE was calculated to be 11.38%. Hence, the overall MAPE was calculated to be 19.34% for the entire calibration phase.

<p>A procedure for calibrating a discrete element (DE) computational soil model for various moisture contents using a conventional Asperity-Spring friction modeling technique is presented in this thesis. The procedure is based on the outcomes of two physical soil experiments:</p> <p>(1) Compression and (2) unconfined shear strength at various levels of normal stress and normal pre-stress. The Compression test is used to calibrate the DE soil plastic strain and elastic strain as a function of Compressive stress. To calibrate the DE inter-particle friction coefficient and adhesion stress as a function of soil plastic strain, the unconfined shear test is used. This thesis describes the experimental test devices and test procedures used to perform the physical terramechanical experiments. The calibration procedure for the DE soil model is demonstrated in this thesis using two types of soil: sand-silt (2NS Sand) and silt-clay(Fine Grain Soil) over 5 different moisture contents: 0%, 4%, 8%, 12%, and 16%. The DE based models response are then validated by comparing them to experimental pressure-sinkage results for circular disks and cones for those two types of soil over 5 different moisture contents. The Mean Absolute  Percentage Error (MAPE) during the compression calibration was 26.9% whereas during the unconfined shear calibration, the MAPE was calculated to be 11.38%. Hence, the overall MAPE was calculated to be 19.34% for the entire calibration phase.</p>