Some may consider compaction to be the most essential part of the construction process. When the soil is compacted, it reduces that amount of pores that hold moisture and air which creates a lot of benefits. Using this method makes the soil more stable which will decrease the amount of stress that it endures from traffic and environmental conditions climate changes. It also reduces the amount that the soil expands due to water absorption. This is a benefit because it makes the ground resistant to frost.
The Process During Compaction
Cohesive Soils
When cohesive soil is compacted, the particles bond together. Examples of this type of soil are silt, clay, and loam.
Noncohesive Soils
Such as sand and gravel, the particles lie side by side instead of bonding together during compaction.
Soil Types Regarding Compatibility
Water-retaining soils
Fine-grained cohesive soils
Coarse-grained non-cohesive soils
Fine and coarse-grained mixed soils
Rock
Dynamic Compaction
This type of compaction is often used due to its high efficiency. During this process, vibrating and oscillating rollers are used. The weight of the roller along with the vibrations from the roller drum help the soil reach high degrees of density. In order to achieve this high degree of density, the amplitude of the vibration or oscillation, the rate of reoccurrence, and the rollers travel speed all need to be considered. Dynamic Compaction is also extremely useful because the roller doesn’t have to pass over the soil as many times as other methods which saves time.
Why Melgaard Construction?
At Melgaard Construction, we understand the right technique that needs to be used for each type of soil. It is crucial to select a construction company that not only specializes in one kind of soil but is experienced with all types of soil. Customer satisfaction is something that we strive for in every step of the process. If you have soil that needs to be stabilized and compacted, contact Melgaard Construction today at (307) 687-1600, and we would be more than happy to get you started.
