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Vibro/ Dynamic/ Impact Compaction are methods of
densifying granular soils using a depth or surface vibrator/
impact. The effect is enhanced shear strength and stiffness. –
Use in loose sands, wind blown sands, cavities, fill material,
reclaimation.
The effect of the process is based on the fact that particles of non-
cohesive soil can be rearranged by means of vibration.
During the late 1940’s in South Africa, a young civil engineer by the
name of Aubrey Berrangé, was watching a fleet of equipment build an
embankment on a remote road building project. The soil was being
placed in thin layers and compacted with multiple passes of a vibratory
roller. As he watched, he was struck by the fact that, of all the
processes happening on the site, the compaction of the newly placed
soil was both the most critical to the success of the project and at the
same time, the least efficient. He began to wonder what it would take to
enable soil to be compacted in much thicker layers. Little did he know
at the time that his thinking was about to lead him into a study that
would last a lifetime and lead to the only real revolutionary advance in
soil compaction since the invention of the steam roller
Between the years of 1949 and 1953, Aubrey Berrangé worked on the
development of a “square wheel” roller. The principle was to provide a
large compactive force on a large contact area similar to a “stamper” or
a “rammer” but on a continuous basis. There were many development
challenges as the forces were enormous and it wasn’t as simple as one
might imagine at first. Nonetheless he persevered and through the
development of a series of trial machines, he was able to produce a
machine that effectively compacted soil to far greater depths than was
possible using the conventional vibratory equipment. Despite the
effectiveness of the “square rollers” the idea seemed to be a little
“ahead of it’s time” since the real need for deep compaction was not
clearly apparent to most people in the industry.
Some 20 years later, during the 1970’s, conditions for the use of “deep
compaction equipment” became more favourable. Roads were having
to withstand the strain of carrying larger truck loads, airports were
having to cater for much larger aircraft [747’s etc] and many places
around the world were looking at reclaiming land from the sea. With a
renewed interest in the requirement for deep compaction becoming
apparent, Aubrey Berrangé dug his old machine out of mothballs and
went in search of industrial development partners. What followed was a
twenty year development story that was filled with much intrigue and
interesting developments. Many collaborations were undertaken
including a lot of work done under the auspices of the South African
Council for Scientific and Industrial Research [CSIR]. During this twenty
year development period, the impact compactor became widely
accepted in Southern Africa and Australia. As the design was refined, a
twin mass [split-mass] configuration was adopted. This proved to
overcome some of the constraints of the single mass machines.
Different shapes of masses were also developed within the twin mass
range of equipment to better suit different applications.
Compaction Loads
The high energy and dynamic compaction action of the Landpac HEIC
equipment leads to typical compaction loads of between 1200kN and
2500kN being generated depending upon the type and condition of the
material being compacted.
Moisture Content
The high energy of the Landpac HEIC equipment leads to the ability to
compact material to a higher maximum dry density than is achievable
with conventional roller type of compaction equipment.
This high energy also allows for the compaction of material over a wider
range of moisture conditions particularly dry of optimum moisture
content.
Depth of Influence
The high compaction loads that are generated by the Landpac HEIC
equipment lead to high surface contact pressure on the soil. This
coupled to the relatively large contact area over which the compaction
energy transfer takes place, leads to a vastly increased depth of
influence of the compaction. Ground improvement is typically measured
to effective depths of 2m-3m with depths of up to 5m being recorded in
some applications.
Soil Compressibility
The shape of the non-circular masses allows for the high energy
parcels to be transferred in the form of a “rolling impact”. This means
that the load duration of the Landpac HEIC process is relatively long
[typically 0.12s]. This extended load transfer duration in turn leads to a
softer soil response to the load and hence an enhanced soil
compressibility is achievable.
Compaction Productivity
The relatively high operating speed and depth of influence of the
Landpac HEIC process leads to very high productivity of compaction.
The HEIC process can typically cover 15,000m² per hour per surface
coverage. The productivity of the Landpac HEIC process can be
between 2 and 5 times higher than that of conventional shallow
compaction equipment when performing fill works and many times
more productive than that when it comes to the improvement of in-situ
materials.
The range of soil types suitable for improvement is less wide than
that for stone columns e.g. soft clays and silts or sites with a high
water table are unsuitable
Dynamic compaction sets up much higher levels of vibrations
than stone column installation. Typically dynamic compaction can be
carried out within 15m from existing services and 30m of existing
buildings
The stone columns and intervening soil form and integrated foundation
support system having low compressibility and improved load bearing
capacity. In cohesive soils, excess pore water pressure is readily
dissipated by the stone columns and for this reason, reduced
settlements occur at a faster rate than is normally the case with
cohesive soils.
There are different types of installation methods which can be broadly
classified in the following manner:
• Wet top feed method
• Dry bottom feed method
• Offshore bottom feed method
2. Stone feeding & Compaction Stone is feed into the hole either from
the surface via a wheel loader (topfeed method) or through a stone
tube to the tip of the vibrator (bottom feed method).
The Deep Mixing Method can be performed in most soft soils. Mixing in
the soil is performed through:
Through the rotating movement, the soil is mixed with the binder and an
immediate reaction starts. The improved soil acquires the share of a
column. Soil mix column diameters of 500mm to 1000mm and lengths
of up to 25m can be constructed to a controlled height and depth. The
columns can also be interlocked to provide cellular structure of in-situ
wall or the entire mass cab be stabilized.
Summary: Dry Deep Soil Mixing
Principle • Chemical stabilization
Maximum depth • 25 m
Pressure
• Grout quantity
• Ground surface deformation
• Heave of structures
Maximum depth • 40 m
The eroded soil is rearranged and mixed with the cement suspension.
The soil-cement mix is partly flushed out to the top of the borehole
through the annular space between the jet grouting rods and the
borehole. Different geometrical configurations of Soilcrete elements can
be produced. The erosion distance of the jet varies according to the soil
type to be treated, the kind of Soilcrete process and the jetting fluid
being used.
Basic forms of Solicrete® elements
1. Drilling Drill rods equipped with jet nozzle holder and drill bit are used
to drill the jet grouting hole down to the required depth. Normally the jet
grout mixture is used as drill flushing to stabilize the borehole during the
drilling operation. In masonry and concrete, special drilling bits are
used.
Maximum depth • 35 m