hand-operated compactor

[bky]

I am in the process of installing a stacked blocked wall and while reading the direction about compacting behind each course they say to us a hand-operated compactor. Does that mean the type with a wooden handle with a steel plat or are they talking about a plate compactor.the link may explain it better.
Thanks Bill
steep #7 http://www.anchorwall.com/cmsVirtua...mond Pro Installation Instructions-WPV850.pdf

 

[rus_geek]

Plate Compactor. They show one in the bottom left image. They are trying to make sure you don't use a self-propelled roller or some monster compactor that will tip the wall over. Personnaly, up to four or six feet high, I don't compact the fill unless I'm over a layer of geogrid.

-rus-

 

[bky]

Thanks Rus, I saw the picture with the compactor in it but I didn't want to harm the block or the stability of the wall not using the proper tool. so you wouldn't recommend compacting the stones in the hollow cores or the back of the wall?

 

[rus_geek]

Stone is typically at .95 compaction at placement, so you won't gain much, if anything trying to compact that. They are talking about compacting the fill dirt that goes behind the drainage stone. It is a judgement call as to whether that should be compacted and depends on the type of soil, moisture content at placement and other site conditions. If you're putting a parking lot behind the retaining wall, I would compact in six inch lifts. If this is just going to be a garden or yard space behind the wall, slight settling is less of an issue.