DYNAMIC CONSOLIDATION or Dynamic Compaction (D.C.

1. Definition

Ground densification process by which impacts by heavy weight are

repeatedly applied on the ground surface according to a predesigned energy,
grid and time sequence.

The process is often called by names as Dynamic Compaction, Dynamic

Consolidation, heavy tamping, impact densification, pounding dynamic pre
compression, or dynamic surcharge.

2. Method statement

Heavy weights called POUNDERS of pre defined section and weight, ranging
mostly between 10 and 200 tons and sections applying static stress in the
range of 30 000 to 50 000 N/m, are pre selected.
Hoisting equipments as crawler cranes or specially designed rigs are
repeatedly lifting those pounders to pre determined heights and releasing the
pounders attached by a cable or free dropping.
Automatic winch systems and accelerated free drop systems have been
developed to limit the energy loss due to cable friction and bending, winch
resistance, inertia, sheaves resistance and inertia.

3. Applications

D.C has two major applications :

- densification of saturated or unsaturated natural sands as well as

hydraulic fills for bearing capacity increase, settlement reduction or
liquefaction mitigation.
- Densification of unsaturated miscellaneous soils in particular fills
containing large particles.
- For saturated soils, the process becomes marginal if the fine contents
do exceed 35%, pending on the clay fraction.

TC 17 Description of different techniques 2007-09-05

4. Geotechnical parameters

The following parameters are relevant for the ground to be densified :

- grain size distribution,

- silt content,
- clay content,
- Atterberg limits,
- Organic content,
- In situ density,
- Crushability of particles,
- Inter particle bonds, suction or cohesion,
- Saturation energy,
- Anisotropy of the soil,
- Location of groundwater table.

5. Concept and design The calibration test

- Target values of CPT cone resistance, SPT values, dynamic sounding

values, pressuremeter parameters, surface wave velocity, as function
of depth have to be pre determined.
- Selection of pounders, equipment to deliver the energy per blow
required to densify the target depth, has to be made.
- Performance of the heave and penetration test to optimise :
the number of blows per phase of works to reach the saturation
energy (energy at which the heave volume equals the
penetration volumes),
the optimal grid to reach full depth,
the time of pore water pressure dissipation.
- The analysis of the in situ tests after calibration, performing the same
type of tests as selected for the target values.

6. Execution parameters recording

- Type of pounder (weight shape and section),

- Type of drop (cable mechanical, cable hydraulic, free drop),
- Drop height,
- Nr of blows per impact point,
- Grid,
- Nr of phases,
- Rest period between phases,
- Enforced settlement,
- Heave observation,
- Type of back fill for impact points.

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7. Quality control

- Several test can be carried out in case of unsaturated and saturated

sand :
cone penetration tests (CPT, CPTU),
standard penetration tests (SPT),
pressuremeter tests (PMT),
dilatometer tests (DMT),
dynamic probing (D.P),
undisturbed piston samples
- In case of unsaturated fills with rubble blocks, ect
pressuremeter tests,
dynamic probing,
zone test (test embankment).

8. Standards

- Dynamic compaction manual

Federal highway administration, national highway institutes,
Washington DC Contract n DIFH-61-83-C-00095.

- BRE, specifying dynamic compaction.

9. Literature

- Mitchell, J.K ( 1981) Soil improvement state of the art report

Proceeding of the 10th international conference on soil mechanics and
foundation Engineering, Stockholm, Vol. 4, pp 509-565

- S. Varaksin, R. Ong, K. Yee, LT Wong Dynamic consolidation and

dynamic replacement for large oil tank foundation Written lecture,
ISSMGE, Touring lecture ground improvement in Vietnam, May 2007.