Heavy vibratory plate compaction of silty sand: A field study

Wersäll, C., Massarsch, K. R., and Spross, J. (2022). Heavy vibratory plate compaction of silty sand: A field study. Soils and Foundations 62(5): 101208. Heavy vibratory plate compaction of silty sand: A field study (sciencedirect.com)

Heavy vibratory plate compaction is an efficient technique for improvement of granular soils. However, its practical application is limited by insufficient knowledge about the compaction process and the optimum procedure of execution. In this study, compaction tests were conducted in the field with a 40.5-ton heavy vibratory plate compactor. The main conclusions highlight the importance of a sufficient centrifugal force of the vibratory hammer to cause disconnection between the plate and the soil. Other important parameters are the vibration frequency and the duration of treatment, which can be optimized by field monitoring. Full coverage of the ground surface is required for compaction of the entire soil volume. It was also found that the compaction depth corresponds to the side length of the plate, in line with previous studies.