DYNAMIC COMPACTION

What it is:

Dynamic compaction densifies soil to a great depth through the impact of a metal mass from a great height, generating very high energy shock waves. The technique was invented and developed by Louis Menard in the 1960s.

How it works:

Dynamic compaction uses weights of 12 to 40 tonnes in free fall from a height of 10 to 40 metres. The layout of the impact point and other parameters of the treatment – energy, phasing, number of impacts per imprint, rest periods, etc. – depend on the characteristics of the ground to be treated.

Why it’s used:

This process, applicable to many projects, increases the bearing capacity of granular soils or mixed fill while reducing post-construction settling as well as the potential for liquefaction.