What’s a Drum Compactor?

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Drum compactors are heavy machines used to compact soil, asphalt or concrete for a level surface. They come in various shapes and sizes, including single or double drum and can be vibratory or static. Twin drum compactors offer more compaction power, while landfill compactors have rounded knobs to eliminate air pockets. Some compactors have the option of vibration, but static compactors are used in densely populated areas.

A drum compactor is a heavy construction machine that compacts soil, asphalt or concrete to create a level surface. These machines are manufactured in a variety of shapes for specific industries, such as highway construction or landfill compaction. Common forms of drum compactor machines can include a single or double drum and can be vibratory or static.

One of the more common compactor types uses a single drum. The heavy cylinder-shaped drum is attached to the front of an operator-driven machine. This type of drum compactor is generally used to compact loose soil for road construction or to compact freshly poured concrete for a level surface. The size of this machine can range from relatively small, allowing it to work in tight job sites, to extremely large, increasing productivity on a large construction project.

Twin drum compactors offer even more compaction power. The machine has a combination of front and rear drums to ensure that the surface is densely compacted under its weight. Sites with extremely loose soil can use this type of machine, but many applications for the double drum involve fine compaction of the concrete surface of the type used to build roads. The extra compaction of the double drums reduces voids in wet concrete for long lasting road formation.

Most drum compactors have a smooth surface for the best compaction results; however, special applications may require a particular drum shape. A landfill compactor has rounded knobs that protrude from the drum so it can infiltrate the surface of the waste and eliminate any air pockets underneath. This specialized compaction helps create more storage space within the landfill. Depending on the size of the landfill, the drum compactor can be single or double drum.

Some compactors have the additional option of vibration. Inside the drum is an electrically powered vibratory motor that creates pulses of mechanical motion. These pulses apply even more compaction power to an area than the basis weight of the drum traversing the area. The pulses of vibration propel the ground material to force it into gaps and open voids. As a result, the surface is more uniform, preventing future warping or cracking of the built surface.

However, some construction sites only use static drum compactor types, especially if the surrounding area is densely populated. Large vibrations can disturb those living in the immediate vicinity if a vibrating drum is used. Static compactors can be constructed with heavy metal drums using simple gravity and weight for effective compaction. The drum is often removable to allow lighter or heavier cylinders to be attached for various applications.




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