Vibro Compaction Construction method. This is a compaction process for purely granular soils.
It relies on the fact that particles of non-cohesive soil can be re-arranged into a denser condition under the influence of vibrations from specially designed poker vibrators.
The action of the vibrator, usually accompanied by water jetting, reduces the inter-granular forces between the soil particles allowing them to move into a more compact configuration.
This process is used in fully saturated and very weak soils. Water jetting removes soft materials, stabilises the hole and allows the stone backfill to reach the bottom of the vibrator. This is then compacted and interlocked with the surrounding soil.