TOBRUK University

Faculty of Engineering
Civil Engineering Department

DEEP COMPACTION

By

ABDALKRIM IBRAHEM MOHAMMED 2395

ALSADEG ABDALRHIM SOLIMAN 2555
MOHAMMED SAEID ELSHAHOMI 2458

Supervision
Mr: ZEYAD KATAB

DEC/2019
DEEP COMPACTION
The content
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

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 height of ( 10–40 m ).

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

WEX
𝐫= (DAS , 6.22)
𝐶

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

1). Principles of Geotechnical Engineering (Seventh Edition)

(BRAJA M. DAS).

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