The Dry Top Feed method of Vibro-compaction is used to enhance bearing capacities and reduce settlements in building and civil engineering projects. A rig mounted vibrating poker is used to penetrate the ground requiring improvement to the required depth.

What happens next?
The poker is extracted and a small amount of aggregate is introduced into the resulting bore from the surface. The poker is then re-introduced to the bore and used to compact the aggregate at the base. The process is then repeated intermittently until a complete stone column has been formed up to surface level.

Geotechnical engineering
A technique that improves the engineering properties of the soil mass treated. Usually, the properties that are modified are shear strength, stiffness and permeability. Ground improvement has developed into a sophisticated tool to support foundations for a wide variety of structures.

Benefits of dry top feed:

• Drains soil
• Compact loose sand and gravel layers
• Reinforce layers that cannot be compacted