Print this page Dynamic Soil Compaction
Vincent D. Reynolds, MBA, P.E.
Course Outline
This 6 hour course will cover the design procedures, contracting procedures, and other essential information of dynamic compaction. A quiz is included at the end to aid in understanding the course material.
This course includes a multiple-choice quiz at the end, which is designed to enhance the understanding of course materials.
Learning Objective
At the conclusion of this course, the student would have learned the following:
- How dynamic compaction is performed with a tamper;
- The mass and height dropped for most tampers;
- The cost of dynamic compaction for various tamper sizes;
- How Rayleigh waves are produced;
- Site conditions that can be improved with dynamic compaction;
- The greatest use of dynamic compaction;
- The various types tests to determine soil properties;
- The frequency of ground vibrations produced dynamic compaction;
- The effects of vibrations from dynamic compaction;
- The most favorable soil conditions for dynamic compaction;
- The particle velocity for compacting building rubble;
- The effects of the water table on dynamic compaction;
- How to determine the depth of soil improvements;
- The amount of allowable post-construction settlement during the economic life of a roadway;
- Why dynamic compaction is performed outside of the boundaries of the loaded areas;
- How to determine the standard penetration resistance after dynamic compaction for sands & gravels;
- The range of depth where the maximum improvements occur during the initial stages of tamping;
- The recommended cable size for a 20.0 Mg tamper;
- The amount of energy needed to densify various sites and soil types;
- Various alternatives to dynamic compaction for ground improvements;
- How to determine the n value for different soil types;
- The most favorable type of material to use for a working mat;
- Drops that are needed to achieve compaction; and
- How water content can produce soil collapse.
Intended Audience and Benefit
This course is intended for those wanting an understanding of dynamic soil compaction. It could be especially useful for professionals working in Transportation, site design and geotechnical engineering, as well as construction professionals.
This course is designed so that the intended audience will benefit immediately with the information to make intelligent decisions related to dynamic soil compaction.
Course Introduction
Soil Compaction occurs during first stages of construction for highways, runways, taxiways, site development and other land use projects. The degree of soil compaction could easily determine the life of structure simply because all dead and live loads are supported by the soil. Oftentimes new developments or infrastructure are proposed on unstable or compressible soil. These conditions presents the designer with compaction problems that may not be able to be handled exclusively through various traditionally compaction methods.
Course Content
This course will cover the design procedures, contracting procedures, and other essential information of dynamic compaction.
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Course Summary
This course contains very useful knowledge can be utilized by the engineer and designer to implement successful dynamic compaction projects.
Using good engineering judgment is always paramount in any situation. Utilizing good judgment and the knowledge gained in this course will aid the reader with the knowledge to be a success in dynamic soil compaction.
Related Links
For additional technical information related to this subject, please visit the following websites:
http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/
http://www.usace.army.mil/
http://www.dot.gov/new/index.htm
Quiz
Once you finish studying the above course content, you need to take a quiz to obtain the PDH credits.
DISCLAIMER: The materials contained in the online course are not intended as a representation or warranty on the part of PDH Center or any other person/organization named herein. The materials are for general information only. They are not a substitute for competent professional advice. Application of this information to a specific project should be reviewed by a registered architect and/or professional engineer/surveyor. Anyone making use of the information set forth herein does so at their own risk and assumes any and all resulting liability arising therefrom.
