TOBRUK University

Faculty of Engineering
Civil Engineering Department
 
DEEP COMPACTION
 
 
By
 
ABDALKRIM IBRAHEM MOHAMMED
2395
ALSADEG ABDALRHIM SOLIMAN
2555
MOHAMMED SAEID ELSHAHOMI
2458
 
 
Supervision
DEEP COMPACTION
The content
Abstract
Introduction
Method of Deep Compaction
Dynamic Compaction
Vibro-compaction
Explosion (Blasting)
Reference
Abstract
 Vibroflotation, vibratory compaction, micro-

blasting or heavy tamping are typical

improvement methods for the cohesionless

deposits of high thickness. The complex

mechanism of deep soil compaction is related to

void ratio decrease with grain rearrangements,

lateral stress increase, prestressing effect of

certain number of load cycles, water pressure

dissipation, aging and other.

Introduction
 Several special types of compaction techniques
have been developed for deep compaction of in-
place soils, and these techniques are used in
the field for large-scale compaction works.
Among these, the popular methods are
dynamic compaction, vibroflotation, and
blasting. Details of these methods are
provided in the following sections.
Method of deep compaction

Deep Compaction

Dynamic Vibro-
compaction compaction

Explosion
Dynamic compaction
Dynamic compaction
 Basic Concept Deep dynamic compaction

is to repeatedly drop a weight (“tamper”)

freely from a height onto the ground surface

in a pattern to compact problematic

geometrical to a deep depth as shown in

Figure 3.16. Repeated impacts reduce

voids, density the geometrical, and induce

ground movement. A tamper typically has a

weight of ( 80-360 KN) and drops from a

Dynamic compaction
Different from shallow compaction, deep
dynamic compaction can compact problematic
geometrical down to a depth of 10 m. The
concept of dynamic compaction can be traced
back to Roman times. The modern technology
has been credited to the French engineer
.( Louis Menard since 1960s)
Dynamic compaction

Leonards, Cutter , and Holtz (1980) suggested that

the significant depth of influence for compaction can
be approximated by using the equation
Dynamic compaction
 NOTE :Deep dynamic compaction is
generally not recommended for clayey soil
with high plasticity index (greater than 8)
and high degree of saturation.
 DYNAMIC COMPACTION
 Dynamic Replacement : When a clayey soil is
too soft and has too low permeability, it is not
effective to be densified or consolidated during
and after tamping. Instead of improving the soil,
the soil can be displaced by tamping and replaced
by stones or coarse aggregates. The process of
dynamic replacement involves tamping,
backfilling, and continued tamping until stone
columns are formed, as shown in Figure 3.18
DYNAMIC COMPACTION
VIBRO-COMPACTION
VIBRO-COMPACTION
Basic Concept Vibro-compaction drives a
vibrating probe into the ground, which
generates lateral vibratory forces to
rearrange particles into a dense state as
shown in Figure 3.30. The rearrangement
of particles becomes possible only when the
induced forces are higher than the inter
. particle friction
VIBRO-COMPACTION
In saturated cohesion less geometrical,
vibration can generate excess pore water
pressure, which reduces inter particle
contact forces (i.e., effective stresses) so
that the inter particle friction (i.e., shear
strength) is reduced. As a result, the
rearrangement of particles becomes easier.
In dry cohesion less geometrcial, water can
.be injected to make the compaction easier
VIBRO-COMPACTION
VIBRO-COMPACTION
Water or air is often used to assist the 

penetration and densification. Backfill is also

often used to improve the degree of

densification. This technique, called the

vibro-flotation method, was first developed

in( Germany in 1930s ) and has been

successfully used worldwide. The probe for

vibro-flotation is commonly referred to as a

. vibro-flot
VIBRO-COMPACTION
During the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, the
hydraulic fill densified by vibro-compaction at
Emeryville on Treasure Island and Bay Farm Island in
California in the United States did not liquefy (Seed
et al., 1990). However, some untreated areas close
to the treated areas had excessive settlement,
lateral spreading, and sand boils. This case history
demonstrates the effectiveness of vibro-compaction
.in mitigating liquefaction of cohesionless soil
VIBRO-COMPACTION

 Applications:

Vibro-compaction has been mostly used to

increase bearing capacity, reduce
settlement, and mitigate liquefaction for a
variety of projects when loose cohesionless
geomaterial exists. The examples of these
projects are storage tanks, buildings,
roadways, dams, and dikes or levees.
EXPLOSION.
 EXPLOSION (BLASTING)

 Blasting is a technique that has been

used successfully in many projects
( Mitchell,1970 ) for the
densification of granular soils. The
general soil grain sizes suitable for
compaction by blasting are the same
as those for compaction by
vibroflotation.
EXPLOSION (BLASTING)

The process involves the

detonation of explosive charges,
such as 60% dynamite at a certain
depth below the ground surface in
saturated soil. The lateral spacing
of the charges varies from about 3
.to 9 m (10 to 30 ft)
EXPLOSION (BLASTING)

Three to five successful detonations are

usually necessary to achieve the
desired compaction. Compaction (up to
a relative density of about 80%) up to a
depth of about 18 m (60 ft) over a large
area can easily be achieved by using
. this process
EXPLOSION (BLASTING)

Usually, the explosive charges are

placed at a depth of about two-thirds of

the thickness of the soil layer desired to

be compacted, The sphere of

influence of compaction by a 60%

dynamite charge can be given as

: follows
EXPLOSION CALCULATION
( DAS , 6.22)  
Where r = sphere of influence

WEX= weight of explosive –60%

Dynamite

C= 0.0122 when WEX is in Kg and r is

in M

C= 0.0025 When WEX is in Ib and r is in

ft
EXPLOSION (BLASTING)

This technique requires careful planning

and should not lift the soil above the
blast, since the top soil should provide
additional load. Experience indicates that
repeated explosions of small charges are
more effective than the large charge of
achieving them
 REFERENCES

Principles of Geotechnical Engineering (Seventh Edition)(. 1

(. BRAJA M. DAS)

. Principles and Practice of Ground Improvement (JIE HAN)(. 2