What is it called when compactive effort does not penetrate the full thickness of the lift being compacted?

What is it called when compactive effort does not penetrate the full thickness of the lift being compacted?

• A. Bridging
• B. Bleeding
• C. Consolidation
• D. Segregation

Answer: (A)

Bridging is the situation where the energy from compaction doesn’t reach through the full thickness of the lift, so a crust or arch forms on top and the deeper material remains under-densified. The surface is compacted, but the compacting effort doesn’t propagate down, leaving voids and weak spots below. This happens when lifts are too thick, moisture conditions are off, or the soil type tends to form arches under load. Bleeding, consolidation, and segregation describe other phenomena: bleeding is water movement to the surface, consolidation is time-dependent settling under load, and segregation is the separation of particles by size during compaction. To prevent bridging, use thinner lifts, proper moisture, and enough energy to compact through the full depth.

Bridging is the situation where the energy from compaction doesn’t reach through the full thickness of the lift, so a crust or arch forms on top and the deeper material remains under-densified. The surface is compacted, but the compacting effort doesn’t propagate down, leaving voids and weak spots below. This happens when lifts are too thick, moisture conditions are off, or the soil type tends to form arches under load. Bleeding, consolidation, and segregation describe other phenomena: bleeding is water movement to the surface, consolidation is time-dependent settling under load, and segregation is the separation of particles by size during compaction. To prevent bridging, use thinner lifts, proper moisture, and enough energy to compact through the full depth.