Compaction of Cohesionless Foundation Soils by Explosives: Fid-Bau Portal

Compaction of Cohesionless Foundation Soils by Explosives

Lyman, A. K. B.

The method of compacting loose, cohesionless foundation soils in their natural state by detonating buried charges of explosives has been used successfully at Franklin Falls Dam, Denison Dam, and Almond Dam. The use of this method, as reported herein, is intended to draw attention to a new economical and efficient method of obtaining a satisfactory degree of compaction in cohesionless foundation materials. To employ this method successfully, the materials must be in a condition approaching complete saturation, and under such conditions, this method is widely applicable to all loose, cohesionless structural foundations. The results obtained in investigations to date (1941) indicate that in addition to increasing the degree of compaction of the materials, the horizontal permeability of stratified deposits is greatly reduced. Further investigations and tests are needed to determine the limits of compaction for specific materials and whether optimum results can be obtained in fully or partly saturated material.