Method for Estimating Dynamic Compaction Effect on Sand

Abstract

This paper proposes a method for estimating the degree and depth of improvement resulting from dynamic compaction on sand. The method is based on extensive two-dimensional finite element analyses, which are benchmarked using centrifuge model results. By appropriately normalizing the results from a wide range of soil properties, initial conditions and operating parameters such as momentum per blow, energy per blow, and number of blows, the results for numerous cases can be summarized into a relatively small number of plots, which can be used for predictive purposes. A preliminary assessment of the reliability of these curves was conducted using results from a centrifuge and a field study. The results of this comparative exercise indicate that the predictions using the method are reasonably realistic.