Evaluation the Effectiveness of Rapid

Impact Compaction (RIC) as a

Ground Improvement Technique
Bashar Tarawneh, Ph.D, P.E
Assistant Professor
Civil Engineering Department
The University of Jordan
Amman, Jordan

Mounir Matraji
Operation Manager
Menard Vibro Middle East
Dubai, UAE
What is RIC?
 Firstconceived in the United Kingdom during the early
1990s to provide middle deep compaction for granular
soil.
 based on the piling driving hammer technology.

 A falling weight is dropped from a relatively low height

onto a special foot assembly at a fast rate.

 The foot remains permanently in contact with the

ground.

 Its considered a middle-deep ground improvement

technique.
9 or 12 ton Drop Weight
Drop height ( 0.3 to 1.2 m)
40-60 drops/minute per footprint
Compaction of the 6m and 3m grid is considered
one pass (sequence 1 and 2)
Compaction Criteria
Compaction should be delivered at each
point until one of the following criteria
was satisfied:
◦ Maximum number of blows = 60
◦ Maximum foot travel = 800 mm
◦ Minimum foot settlement = 8 mm
 RIC Monitor Data
Design Data RIC Monitor Data

Total
Design Coordinates Final set Final depth Ave fall
Total energy
Point ID Date Time
blows
Easting Northing mm m mm Tm

01 483460 2770184 23-10-13 14:31:43 17 8 0.533 1130 172.86

02 483456 2770179 23-10-13 14:32:42 21 8 0.207 1176 222.35
03 483452 2770174 23-10-13 14:33:34 13 8 0.118 1164 136.21
04 483448 2770170 23-10-13 14:34:30 19 8 0.186 1175 200.85
05 483445 2770165 23-10-13 14:35:24 18 8 0.182 1155 187.08
06 483441 2770160 23-10-13 14:36:24 18 8 0.196 1147 185.82
07 483437 2770156 23-10-13 14:37:19 20 8 0.213 1159 208.61
08 483433 2770151 23-10-13 14:38:19 23 7 0.258 1143 236.62
09 483429 2770147 23-10-13 14:39:41 21 8 0.205 1147 216.85
10 483425 2770150 23-10-13 14:41:02 15 7 0.147 1110 149.91
11 483429 2770155 23-10-13 14:41:50 16 7 0.199 1132 163.01
Sequence of RIC Work
The sequence of the RIC works involved
the following:
◦ Step 1 - Excavation to foundation level.
◦ Step 2 - Pre-treatment CPT testing.
◦ Step 3 - First pass of RIC, leveling.
◦ Step 4 - Second pass of RIC, leveling.
◦ Step 5 - Third pass of RIC, leveling.
◦ Step 7 - Level survey, post treatment testing.
 Why RIC?
• It provides middle-deep compaction (3 to 5m).
• Can operate close to existing structures.
• Capabilities to compact on slopes up to 20 degrees
• Coverage area 2500 to 3000 m2 per shift.
• Fast Mobilization.
• Mitigate liquefaction potential.
• Increase soil bearing capacity and reduce settlements.
Vibration Monitoring Results
Distance (m) PPV at 5 m
Activity Corresponding to away from the
PPV* of 2 mm/s work (mm/s)
Dynamic
47 55
Compaction
Dynamic
40 39
Replacement
High Impact
30 13
Compaction
Vibro Compaction
27 13

Rapid Impact
Compaction (RIC) 24 17

*Peak Particle Velocity

Project Requirements
Bottom of footing (B.O.F) to be 1.0m
below the ground level.

Square footing (2.5m by 2.5m).

 200 kPa bearing pressure.

Settlement shall not exceed 25mm.

Soil Profile
Loose to very loose fine to medium sand
layer is encountered at a depth ranging
from 1.0m to 4.0m below the ground
level.
Fine content ( 11% to 18%)

Water table was encountered at a depth of

0.5m to 2.0m below the ground level.
Ground Improvement
Technique Productivity Cost
Technique Limitation for (m2 /shift / (Dollar
this Project machine ) s/m2)*
Fine content
Vibrocompaction
shall not be 700 40
(VC)
more than 5%
Damage to
nearby existing
Dynamic
structures and 1,000 30
Compaction (DC)
utilities due high
impact energy.
Rapid Impact No limitations
2,500 15
Compaction (RIC)

* The productivity and the cost are estimated for this project and may vary for other
projects depending on the soil profile and depth of improvement.
Post improvement testing
Tip Resistance qc (MPa)
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 Friction Ratio Rf (%)
0
0 1 2
0

1
1

2 2

3 3
Depth (m)

4
4

5
5

6
Post-Improvement Pre-Improvement Friction Ratio Rf (%)
Post improvement testing
Tip Resistance qc (MPa)
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
Friction Ratio Rf (%)
0
0 1 2
0

1
1

2
2
Depth (m)

3 3

4
4

5
5
Post-Improvement Pre-Improvement Friction Ratio Rf (%)
Settlement Calculations
70
60
Settlement (mm)
50
40
30
20
10
0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60

Villa ID No.

Pre-Improvement Sett. Post-Improvement Sett.

Conclusions
 RIC is a cost-effective technique of ground
improvement.
 Reduction in the foundation costs and
construction time.
 Results of the field pre and post improvement
testing indicate improvement of soil to depths
down to 5.0 meters below the ground level.
 Settlements calculations showed that the RIC
method reduced the expected settlement by an
average of 45% which is significant.
Conclusions
 A significant improvement was achieved when the
friction ratio (Rf %) is less than 1%. A slight
improvement was achieved when Rf is between
1% to 2%.
 RIC has less cost and more productivity when
compared to Dynamic Compaction and
Vibrocompaction.
 RIC has less vibration effect when compared to
dynamic compaction.
 No known damage to nearby utilities has occurred
at the time RIC was performed