What can I use instead of a plate compactor? - HENGDA RIC

The RIC, imparts energy by dropping a 5 to 9 tonne weight from a relatively small height of 1.2 m at a blow rate of 40 to 90 times a minute. Depending on the ram weight, the maximum energy delivered per blow is 59 to 106 kNm. Although the energy per blow is small compared to the conventional DC, the rapid blow frequency amply compensates, resulting in a greater power that varies between 2.4 to 6.4 MNm/min. Thus, a much greater total energy input per unit area of a site can be achieved with RIC. Moreover, the energy transfer of the RIC is far more effective due to its foot which stays in contact with the ground during the impact sequence. 

Rapid Impact Compaction provides a technically sound and economic method of improving the capacity of a wide variety of loose soils and fills. The Rapid Impact Compactor can work alone on some types of strata (effective treatment in the top layers of typically up to 6 m depth) or in conjunction with other ground improvement techniques, e.g., Deep Dynamic Compaction, where the strata´s depth or grain sizes dictates. Due to the numerous benefits, e.g., compaction control through an on-board computer, operation at safety, quality assurance, versatility and speed, the Rapid Impact Compaction system will become well-established in the dynamic compaction field. Further research, including theoretical, numerical and practical studies, is nevertheless essential to enhance the innovative compaction system. 

Numerous developments of the last decades provide a broad range of near-surface compaction technologies (such as static and dynamic rollers) and deep compaction techniques (such as deep vibro-compaction, vibro-flotation and deep vibroreplacement, heavy tamping). However, until recently no device was available for middle-deep compaction. The lately introduced Rapid Impact Compactor (RIC) aims at closing the gap between the surface compaction methods and the deep compaction methods, and permitting a middle-deep improvement of the ground up to a depth of 4 to 10 m.

The compaction effect of the Rapid Impact Compactor is characterized by pulse-shaped loading of the ground and is achieved by a specific number of blows. The ground to be improved is both compacted and displaced depending on the soil type, thus, causing plastic deformations in the near-field while elastic waves are generated in the far-field. The nature of vibration excitation (transient or periodic) is one of the limiting factors for the allowable impact on buildings and human beings and has to be taken into account for the assessment of standardized limit values. 

The latest generation HC models in the RIC range are available with drop weights of 5t, 7t, 10t and, more recently, a 16t version has been introduced. Treatment is effective in top layers typically down to 6m depth. The latest HC model, complete with a 10t drop weight, is fitted with a new sound attenuation pack which has been designed by Hangshen to significantly reduce the noise level produced by the compactor when in operation.

Small Buildings and Floor Slabs – RIC has been used to improve soil under 2 to 3-story building footings and floor slabs.

Replace Surcharging – Instead of using a surcharge to consolidate the soil under a static weight, Rapid Impact Compaction consolidates it immediately.

Replace Over Excavation – Loose fills or soils can be consolidated immediately without the need to replace the soil.

Improve Lateral Load Capacity for Piles – The lateral load capacity of a pile is greatly influenced by the stiffness of the upper 10 feet of soil in which it is driven. By densifying the upper layers of soil the lateral capacity is greatly increased.