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Dynamic Compaction

and Dynamic
Replacement

Keller Ground Engineering has a wealth of global and local


knowledge within the geotechnical industry and as a result
delivers the most economical ground improvement designs
and products to achieve the client’s requests

Australia’s Leader
In Geotechnical Construction
Examples of DC/DR Pounder Dynamic Compaction and
Dynamic Replacement
Penetrating Pounder THE TECHNIQUE
Dynamic Compaction (DC) is a ground improvement technique
that densifies soils and fills to depths, typically in the range of
4m to 15m, by high energy impact compaction. A typical 12t to
30t impact pounder is lifted by modified crane and dropped in
phases on the ground surface to effectively over-consolidate the
in-situ soils. Dynamic Replacement (DR) is an adaptation of the DC
technique, employed in soft cohesive soils of up to 6m deep, in
which stone columns are driven to displace the in-situ soft soils
and create a stable composite material.

These dynamic techniques are typically used in uncontrolled fills,


collapsible soils, landfill sites, dredged or reclaimed land and soft
clay/mud deposits.

THE PROCESS
Ironing Pounder
The DC and DR techniques are repetitive free fall drops in a grid
pattern, which on impact consolidate the soil, increase the density,
friction angle and stiffness; as well as decreasing the potential for
site settlement or soil liquefaction. The process is relatively simple,
being a series of repetitive blows at each given location.

The difference between DC and DR, is that DR takes this process


one step further by filling in the consolidated regions with rock and
then continuing to compact the area. The rock infill acts to form
stone columns that reinforce soft or weak soils that are beyond the
effective application of the DC method.

Quality Assurance

KGE can monitor and record:

Degree of consolidation produced by the


DC & CR methods

Conduct pre/post CPTs across the


working platform

Provide material certificates and quality


checks on the replacement rock

Undertake plate load tests for


verification purposes
THE DESIGN
With cohesionless materials (sands, gravels, boulders,
landfills) the energy imparted by the pounder
physically densifies the materials by reducing the
void space between particles. The repeated Dynamic
Compaction subjects the treated soils to dynamic loads
in excess of the loads that will be imposed by the
proposed structure/development.

This in turn enables the foundation design to be


carried out using the over-consolidated and improved
parameters of the treated soils.

With saturated cohesive soils (silts, clays, ”muds”) the pore pressure increase in the soils under dynamic loading
precludes the densification of the soils due to the undrained conditions. The associated short term decrease in
strengths in these soils however facilitates their displacement and, in turn, replacement with granular material.
The composite parameters of soft cohesive soils and dense granular columns are used for stability and settlement
calculations.

In the DC/DR treatment the free fall height of the pounder, the pounder mass and dimensions, the spacing of
treatment points, the sequence of treatment and the number of drops are all variables that are used and controlled
by KGE to ensure the required performance criteria are met.

Ask KGE regarding your specific design requirements to provide you with a cost effective and
efficient design for your project.

KGE offer the service as a design and construct basis including certification for the
performance of the treatment where applicable.

Pre-Construction
KGE can conduct a site specific inspection/investigation
(SI) to gather any unknown design and construction data.
Following this KGE will review the data and propose the
most appropriate d&c solution.

During Construction
KGE will monitor the degree of compaction and record any
on site data as required to enable KGE to certify the works.
This testing is inclusive of but not limited to;

Pre- Cone Penetration Test and Plate Load Tests

Post Cone Penetration Tests

Degree of consolidation per location

Amount of rock fill per location (DR Method)

Post Construction
KGE will compile all the relevant QA data. KGE provides
certification of all DC/DR treatment carried out in
compliance with the agreed performance requirements ,
supported by the appropriate QA documentation and testing.

www. ke l l e r g e. co m . a u
APPLICATIONS ADVANTAGES

Stabilize landfill or decommissioned mine sites Cost effective

Reclaimed land / dredged deposits Flexibility in application

Sand densification Enables conventional construction on loose/soft


soils including uncontrolled fills
Port Reclamations
Eliminates construction consolidation time

No spoil or waste generated

Ability to compact variable fills including


boulders and inclusions

No need to handle or exposed buried materials.

Address issues such as ground settlement


constraints, bearing capacity concerns and
liquefaction potential

NCIG KOORAGANG ISLAND

BEFORE AFTER

Design and Construct by KGE Dynamic Compaction and Dynamic Replacement were
used to enable the construction of 21m high coal
stockpiles and stacker/reclaimer berms of loose sands
and soft clays for the NCIG coal handling facility on
Kooragang Island, Newcastle

Keller Ground Engineering


Level 1, 4 Burbank Place, Baulkham Hills, NSW, 2153, Australia
www. ke l l e r g e. co m . a u T 1300 KELLER (1300 535537) F (+61) 02 8866 1151 E info@kellerge.com.au

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