Application of dynamic compaction and rolling compaction in the subgrade improvement of Qarhan-Golmud Highway

Melt shrinkage, salt bulge, and corrosiveness are common problems with saline soils, which damage highway foundations and cause huge financial losses. In order to improve the saline soil subgrade, dynamic compaction (DC) and rolling compaction (RC) technology were applied on the Qarhan-Golmud Highway in Qinghai Province, China. A field experiment was conducted in which shear strength, deformation modulus, and the working mechanism of the composite foundation were analyzed after reinforcement. Both the DC and RC methods were found to be effective and helped to improve the foundation strength of saline soils, although the ultimate bearing capacity and deformation modulus of the RC method were lower than that of the DC method.