Plate compactor

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Plate compactor in road construction
Bobcat T300 and the Stehr high-performance plate compactor SBV 80 HC3

The plate compactor is a construction machine that is used in earthworks and road construction . There it is used to compact unbound layers of gravel or crushed stone . The plate compactor is particularly suitable for compacting a fine level because, in contrast to compacting with rollers, there is no loosening of the upper centimeters.

The machine consists of a carrier vehicle (in Germany mostly a Unimog , MB-Trac , tractor , wheel loader , Bobcat ), a water tank and compaction plates. The compaction plates are driven by a power take-off shaft . During the compaction process, water from the tank can be added to the gravel or crushed stone layer to improve the compaction result.

Plate compactors have the advantage that compactors have a big problem when compacting gravel, sand and mineral concrete, because only about 20% of the energy is directed vertically into the ground and used for the actual compacting. Approx. 80% are lost due to strong, unwanted vibrations in the environment. Furthermore, the horizontal displacements that occur when the cylindrical roller body rolls off lead to a loosening of the surface. Up to eight passes are required to compact the loosened material with a second compactor. Grain fragmentation and segregation in the upper areas can result. The strong resonance vibrations could also damage buildings and pipeline systems in the vicinity.