Which method involves dropping a heavy weight to densify soil?

The method of dynamic compaction involves dropping a heavy weight onto the soil surface, which imparts a significant amount of energy into the ground. This process increases the soil density by rearranging the soil particles closer together, effectively reducing void spaces and enhancing the load-bearing capacity of the soil. Dynamic compaction is typically used in areas where deep soil stabilization is necessary, such as under foundations for buildings or other structures.

In contrast, static compaction involves applying a steady weight over the soil, which does not provide the sudden impact energy that dynamic compaction does. Vibratory compaction uses vibrational forces to induce rearrangement of soil particles, relying on oscillation rather than weight drop. Soil replacement involves excavating existing soil and replacing it with new, compacted material, which does not utilize the weight drop technique at all. Each of these alternative methods has its own specific applications, but they do not utilize the dynamic impact that characterizes dynamic compaction.