Experimental and Analytical Modeling of Ground Displacement Induced by Dynamic Compaction in Granular Soils

Abstract

Dynamic compaction (DC) is a ground treatment method that achieves soil densification effects using impact forces. The ground displacement of a crater induced by a hammer is often used for the determination of densification, but less attention has been paid to internal displacement in the ground. To establish an overall understanding of the displacements caused by DC, a laboratory experiment was conducted with sand. The experiment included four energy levels by changing the falling height of the hammer. Meanwhile, a calculation model based on stochastic media theory was proposed to calculate the displacement in the soil. The relationship between the geometric characteristics of the crater and the internal displacement of the soil was established in the model based on the experimental results. The ranges of the relevant parameters were determined, and the feasibility of the calculation model was verified. The model showed good consistency with the experimental data. By selecting the critical settlement, the model could be used to estimate the specific densification scope, including the reinforcement depth and radius. This method can provide a reference for the calculation and optimization of DC.