This is the most common soil condition where dynamic compaction is used. Dynamic compaction is incredibly effective at improving the stability and reliability of the soil conditions as well as improving the engineering properties. It’s quite common for fill materials to contain debris and this can be dangerous as it creates structural voids and leads to settlement under the new fill.

The settlement or bearing capacity is usually not a primary concern but rather the chances of liquefaction caused by extreme weather conditions. In this case dynamic compaction would be used to increase the density of the soil below the water table to reduce the chances of liquefaction-induced deformations.

At municipal solid waste sites, dynamic compaction can be very successful as it reduces the amount of oxygen present which could degrade material. If left as is this may result in long-term settlement.

Mining spoils have historically been managed in uncontrolled ways following mining operations. Oftentimes these uncontrolled deposits range from 50 or 60 feet deep. Dynamic compaction has been used successfully at many mine spoil sites. The process of dynamic compaction creates a soil “mat” that greatly irons out any settlement and instability.

Collapsible soils exist in many areas, particularly throughout the Midwestern and Western United States. In a dry state, these soils have decent bearing capacity and strength; however they will often collapse when they become saturated. By utilizing dynamic compaction to improve these collapsible materials, the overall void ratio of the soil can be reduced, this minimizes the potential for collapse.

Karst is a geologic formation that happens when cavities form in water soluble rock such as limestone or dolomite. The most common manifestation of a karst condition is a sinkhole at the surface. By utilizing high-energy dynamic compaction drops, near-surface sinkholes can be exposed and remediated prior to surface construction.