THE USE OF FOAMED PROPELLANTS FOR COMPACTION AND STABILIZATION OF VARIOUS TYPES OF TERRAIN.

Abstract : The report describes a proposed new method for compacting soil which is based on the principle of pressure waves as a source of compaction energy. This method which has been termed the foamed propellant method for soil compaction has a formulation containing hydrazine, ammonium perchlorate and a foaming agent, hydrolized protein base foam liquid. The mechanics of this new compaction method are relatively simple, with a blanket of the foamed propellant system placed on the surface of the soil to be compacted and then detonated. The results of using the foamed propellant system to compact both cohesionless and cohesive soils are presented and discussed. This includes some preliminary investigation of the influence of both surface area and multiple detonation on compaction control parameters. The results of this investigation to date show conclusively that this new compaction method is effective in increasing the density of the soil to depths of as much as 15 inches below the surface for sandy soils, sand-gravel mixtures and a predominantly silty soil containing little clay. (Author)