THE DEVELOPMENT AND TESTING OF AN IMPACT ROLLER

Abstract

THIS PAPER CONCERNS THE PERFORMANCE OF A 24,000 LB PENTAGON SHAPED PROTOTYPE COMPACTOR. THIS MACHINE IMPARTS A SERIES OF IMPACTS DUE TO ITS MASS DROPPING ABOUT 8 IN. ONTO AN AREA OF ABOUT 8 SQUARE FEET. STEADY ROLLING ACTION IS ACHIEVED BY SPRINGS AND DAMPING DEVICES IN THE TOWING MECHANISM. AT A RECENT TRIAL, SURFACE SETTLEMENT, SUB-SURFACE SETTLEMENT, PENETROMETER, AND DENSITY OBSERVATIONS, TOGETHER WITH PRESSURE CELL MEASUREMENTS, SHOWED THAT THE PENTAGON COMPACTOR ACHIEVED AN APPRECIABLY BETTER EFFECT THAN OTHER ROLLERS AND, WITH A HIGHER WORK OUTPUT, SHOULD PROVE TO BE ECONOMICAL. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT THE PENTAGON COMPACTOR OFFERS AN ALTERNATIVE TO HEAVY PNEUMATIC ROLLERS FOR PROOF OF SUBGRADES AND SHOULD PROVE USEFUL FOR COMPACTION OF MIXED SOIL AND ROCKS AND LANDFILL RUBBISH DUMPS AS WELL AS FOR DEEP COMPACTION SOILS IN GENERAL. /AUTHOR/