Soil Compaction In Construction

What is soil compaction?

Soil compaction is a process of applying force on the soil to drive out air and increase the bulk density. For any soil the obtained density depends on the moisture content and the compaction is a method that can increase its density. Since the amount of air is reduced without changing the amount of water in the soil, the degree of saturation increases.

Various soil compaction, various types of soil

The soil compaction is different, depending on the type of soil. Most commonly it is distinguished between cohesive and non-cohesive soils. In non-cohesive soils (sand, gravel, etc.), the particles lie side by side without bonding, while in cohesive soils (silt, clay, etc.), the particles in the soil bond to each other. The soil types are distinguished as follows in terms of compactability: fine grained cohesive soils, coarse grained non-cohesive soils, water-retaining soils, fine grained mixed soils, rocks, etc.

Soil compaction in construction

In the construction industry, soil compaction is an important part of the building process. It reduces the pores of the soil that are filled with air and water and increase its stability in the process. If you're wondering why is compaction necessary, improperly performed compaction could occur settlement of the soil and result in unnecessary maintenance costs or failure of the structure. Un-compacted and wet soil is almost impossible to build on, so all types of building sites and construction projects have mechanical compaction techniques and equipment, such as soil compactors. Soil compactor is a machine used in construction industry that reduces the size of waste material or soil through compaction. Soil compactors can be found in various sizes and shapes, but they are all with same use.

Dynamic compaction

In construction, dynamic compaction is mostly used and recommended as it has proven to be very effective. The dynamic compaction of soils is the most effective compaction in earth-moving operations. Typically, this type of compaction is a combined action of vibrating or oscillating roller drum and the weight of the machine itself. With applying extra load not just the weight force, the soil compaction will be significantly more effective.