Compaction Equipment - What Is It?

Compaction equipment consists of machines specifically designed to reduce the mass of material (usually soil) through compression and compaction. There are a range of different types of compactors available, with varying strengths for use on different types of surfaces.

What is compaction equipment used for?

Compaction equipment is typically used in the construction and paving industry; a common sight in road construction, it is also used in landscaping, airfields, dams, harbour constructions and car crushers.

Common types of soil:

• Cohesive – sticky soil, hard to breakup when dry with a high clay content
• Semi-cohesive
• Organic – decomposed organic matter/plants roots etc
• Granular – No cohesive strength, very crumbly and doesn’t stick together when moist Granular soil is much more difficult to compact

Compaction equipment be be divided into two groups, light and heavy.

Light Compactors

These are typically used for smaller tasks, often for home/garden improvement, as well as for industrial purposes in difficult to reach areas.

Plate Compactors

Available in vibrating and non-vibrating, plate compactors are extremely useful items of construction equipment. They generally consist of a heavy steel plate, which is mounted onto the base of the equipment – this is driven (usually vibrated) up and down by an engine.

Ideal for use on granular soils, with loose stone and sand, the plate compactor is widely used in a number of outdoor projects, such as compacting soil before paving and providing a smooth surface for small and difficult to reach areas of asphalt. Operation is fairly straightforward; once switched on, the plate will move up and down at an adjustable speed – forcing the surface beneath to compact and pack together more tightly. The power of the plate compactor will depend on the size of its plate.

Vibro-Tampers/ Rammers or Jumping Jacks

Vibro-Tampers (also known as Rammers or Jumping Jacks) are excellent for use in tight and difficult to reach areas, due to its smaller footplate than the plate compactor. Consisting of a spring activated, engine driven base plate, that lifts and lowers a vibrating plate compressing the soil and removing any extra pockets of air. Rammers usually require more effort from the operator – the general design features two handles that the operators holds rather like a motorcycle during use.

Heavy Soil Compaction Equipment

Roller compactors are most commonly used on the construction site as they are generally too large for home garden projects.

Smooth Wheeled Rollers

Smooth Wheeled Rollers can be either vibrating or non-vibrating. Both of which are used for finishing upper surfaces such as, asphalt, gravel, crushed rock, roads, drives and car parks as well as sports fields (which require a flat and even surface). The performance of smooth wheeled rollers depends very much on the size and weight of the drum. The heavier the drum, the higher the compression rate. Vibratory smooth rollers provide a higher level of compaction and up to a greater depth. The vibration is also necessary for compacting materials with possible voids such as clay soil and sand. Generally a more expensive choice than the non vibrating smooth wheeled rollers, however their superior performance and higher output, should be weighed up against the cost.

Sheepfoot Rollers or Padded Rollers

Also available in vibrating or non vibrating, these are usually powered by large diesel engines, designed for compacting cohesive soils with high clay contents. The sheepfoot roller is characterised by raised knobs/bumps or chunky looking spikes and works by effectively kneading the soil beneath. There are many varieties available for different uses.

Pneumatic Roller

This roller is heavily used during the construction of asphalt surfaces, a common site on virtually all paving jobs. Unlike the smooth wheeled rollers which consist of a metal drum, the pneumatic roller works by using large inflated rubber tyres, usually nine of them, providing a smooth even finish to asphalted surfaces. Many road construction companies prefer the pneumatic roller for the final finish, as it gives denser compaction as well as driving the larger aggregates deeper down whilst pushing the finer aggregates to the top. This leaves less voids as well as an oily top surface which when it dries, seals the asphalt preventing water damage.

AT Wilde stock a fully comprehensive range of Dynapac compaction and paving equipment. Dynapac have been manufacturing compaction equipment for over fifty years, due to their engineering expertise and extensive research they have developed market leading compaction equipment including rollers, plates and rammers.