What is the proper method to compact soil above pipeline that will not cause it to fail?

[AskTooMuch]

What is the proper method to compact soil above pipeline that will not cause it to fail due to heavy compaction vehicle/equipment?

 

[bimr]

If you google, you will find some information from various state DOTs (Dept of Transportation). See: Link

 

[LittleInch]

In general add back fill in layers of 200-300mm, then compact using mechanical vibrators / whacker plates to 95% of the CBR of the undisturbed soil.

Using excavator buckets is not really good enough, nor is simply watering the backfill or dumping in large depths in one go.

Adding a small berm on top for a few days will also help as will watching it carefully over the first few days and preventing ruts and a trench to develop which will result in impact loads creating a failure.



Remember - More details = better answers
Also: If you get a response it's polite to respond to it.

 

[weldstan]

Also depends on pipe material; e.g., HDPE, ductile iron, steel, etc.

 

[nackra]

PVC Pipe Association has references for PVC (flexible) pipe:

https://www.uni-bell.org/Resources/Documents/42/installation/guide

Ductile Iron Pipe Research Association has references for ductile iron (rigid) pipe:

https://www.dipra.org/ductile-iron-pipe-resources/technical-publications