A numerical tool for design of dynamic compaction treatment in dry and moist sands

Dynamic compaction (DC) is a popular soil improvement method that is extensively used worldwide. DC treatment design is usually carried out based on past experiences and empirical relations. To establish a rational design approach, all important factors affecting the DC process should be taken into account. In this paper, a finite element code is developed for modeling the impact behavior of dry and moist granular soils. The code is verified with the results of some centrifuge tests. Several analyses were conducted in order to study the effects of energy/momentum per drop, tamper base radius, and number of drops on compaction degree, compacted depth, and extension of the improved zone in the ground. The developed code has considerable capabilities to be used as a tool for designing dynamic compaction treatments.