Compaction Equipment

What Is Compaction?

Soil compaction can be summarised as the conditioning and preparation of soil beneath construction to provide a solid foundation. Different types of compaction equipment are used to remove air voids from the ground by the means of applied force.

Effective and reliable compaction equipment is crucial to the success of most construction projects, as the compaction of base materials is essential to the integrity of the finished concrete on top. Compactors come in a variety of different forms from tampers to large soil rollers and are used for compacting materials around foundations for roads, houses, landscaping and other types of construction – most concrete bases have used a compactor for their foundations.

There are numerous factors which influence the choice of compaction equipment for any particular project. Determining factors include:

• Application
• Size and depth of the intended compaction area
• Correct identification of soil type and density of the ground
• Working speed of the compactor
• Price range
• Climate, traction and conditions
• Size of the compaction machine

Different Types of Compactors

There are two main types of compactors: static compactors which use solely the weight of the machine to compress soil particles together, and vibratory compactors. The latter works by rearranging particles, which are ‘shaken’ together to fall into close proximity with one another, increase density and remove any voids. There are two main types of vibratory compactors – smooth drum and padfoot drum.

When using a vibratory compactor, the process of compaction is uniform throughout, as the vibratory drum hits the ground and density is achieved by the generated force of the drum. The effectiveness of the compactor is governed by its working speed – this dictates how long it will take to compact the area of ground being worked on.

Rammers

Also known as Jumping Jacks, rammers are a type of compaction equipment suitable for tighter spaces, they are often used for compacting narrow trenches, compacting through the delivery of high velocity punches.

Vibratory Plate Compactors

Plate compactors create faster vibrations than rammers and are useful for smaller areas which don’t require larger rollers. Often used on more confined areas of construction sides due to their compact design, and manoeuvrability, plate compactors are available with various different sized plates – the larger the plate, the more surface contact it has with the compaction area.

Rollers

Ideally suited for larger spaces, rollers come in various different sizes and weights – smooth vibratory drums are used to compact foundations for roadways. Single drum rollers are frequently used for the compaction of soil, gravel and asphalt. Twin drum rollers are used for asphalt compaction as well as other base materials.

In locations where the conditions are rougher and soil is more cohesive with a higher clay content, rollers with padded feet provide a more thorough compaction. The tapered pads penetrate deep into the soil, compacting it from top down.

How We Can Help

For more advice or assistance on choosing the right compaction equipment for your operational needs, get in touch with AT Wilde today.