Horizontal stress increase induced by deep vibratory compaction

Abstract

Compaction by vertically or horizontal oscillating probes increases not only the soil stiffness but also the horizontal effective stress. An important, but often neglected, consequence is that compaction also causes preloading of the soil. The change in horizontal stress following vibratory compaction can be measured independently by two in situ methods – a cone penetration test (CPT) and a flat dilatometer test (DMT). Values of sleeve resistance (CPT) and horizontal stress index (DMT) can be determined prior and after compaction. In this work, five case histories reported in the literature where different vibratory compaction methods were used (dynamic compaction, vibroflotation, VibroWing, TriStar and resonance compaction) were re-analysed. For each test site, the change in CPT cone resistance and sleeve resistance was determined and compared with the increase in horizontal stress index from DMTs. The preloading effect due to vibratory compaction was estimated using empirical correlations.