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Soil Compaction Test Equipment
The general purpose of compaction equipment is to complete nature's work in a much quicker fashion. In essence, the settling and compacting of materials such as rock, sand, gravel, dirt, and asphalt takes years, often tens of years, to complete by nature. Because construction and road building doesn't have that long to wait, this equipment is extremely necessary. Whether you are readying the ground for concrete or another foundation, or finishing a roadway, soil and asphalt compactors are a key component in securing and smoothing your project area. There are different tools that are used for different compaction purposes, each with its own strengths and abilities.
There are four separate forces which produce optimal compaction results, and any one or a combination of these will take the air from between the particles of surface area and push them closer together, making a tight and rigid surface for the foundation of the rest of the project. This often needs to be done on multiple levels with different types and densities of materials, such is the case with road building. There are many layers on which the finished driving surface sits, each one as important as the next, and if one fails, the entire road will give. Equipment is available that delivers static pressure, impact, manipulation, or vibration in order to achieve the optimum hardening and packing of the surface that you are working with.
Static pressure compaction is applied with the use of weighted rollers, pulled behind machines or mounted on their own vehicle. These rollers are designed to push and pull several layers of particles together and push all air away from pockets and out from between the particles. Generally, the smaller the weighted roller or drum, the more likely cracks and ridges in the finished surface. There are many other factors involved with this method, and experience and training will tell you which methods to use and how to prevent the device from plowing the material that you are attempting to compact.
Manipulation is actually a kneading process, where particles are pushed together and tightened with use of drumming equipment. Impact compaction equipment uses falling weights to pack several layers of soil or material with each blow. Vibration uses a succession of impact waves that spread out in all directions, and is usually the final step to the compaction process. Soil compaction test equipment is also a very important part of proper packing and surfacing.