Vibroflotation includes densification of loose sands by means of shear deformation processes imparted by horizontal vibrations of vibrator probes. 1g model tests replicating the vibroflotation process were conducted using a model vibrator to identify online compaction control parameters. The effectiveness of the compaction was evaluated by means of a cone penetration test. An accelerometer and a trigger were installed in the model vibrator to measure the amplitude of the vibrator and the phase angle of the eccentric mass during compaction. The variation of amplitude and phase angle during compaction was studied and it was observed that amplitude and phase angle reduced with the increasing density of sand. Two tests were conducted with and without considering amplitude as a compaction control parameter. One test included a pre-determined fixed compaction time and the other used amplitude as a compaction completion indicator. It was observed that tests conducted considering amplitude as a compaction control parameter led to reduced compaction time. Coupled Eulerian-Lagrangian-based numerical simulations were carried out to study the feasibility of amplitude-controlled compaction under realistic stress state conditions.
