Find the word definition

Crossword clues for compaction

The Collaborative International Dictionary
Compaction

Compaction \Com*pac"tion\, n. [L. compactio.] The act of making compact, or the state of being compact. [Obs.]
--Bacon.

Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
compaction

late 14c., from Old French compaction, from Latin compactionem (nominative compactio) "a putting or joining together," noun of action from past participle stem of compingere (see compact (adj.)).

Wiktionary
compaction

n. The process of compacting something, or something that has been compacted.

WordNet
compaction
  1. n. an increase in the density of something [syn: compression, concretion, densification]

  2. the act of crushing [syn: crush, crunch]

Wikipedia
Compaction

Compaction may refer to:

  • Soil compaction, for mechanically induced compaction near the ground surface
  • Compaction (geology), part of the process of lithification involving mechanical dewatering of a sediment by progressive loading under several km of geomaterial
  • Waste compaction, related to garbage
  • Cold compaction, powder compaction at low temperatures
  • Data compaction, related to computers
    • Curve-fitting compaction
  • Compactor, a device that performs compaction
  • Compaction, a cellular differentiation process during early embryogenesis, which occurs during the cleavage stage of human embryogenesis
Compaction (geology)

In sedimentology compaction refers to the process by which a sediment progressively loses its porosity due to the effects of loading. This forms part of the process of lithification. When a layer of sediment is originally deposited, it contains an open framework of particles with the pore space being usually filled with water. As more sediment is deposited above the layer, the effect of the increased loading is to increase the particle-to-particle stresses resulting in porosity reduction primarily through a more efficient packing of the particles and to a lesser extent through elastic compression and pressure solution. The initial porosity of a sediment depends on its lithology. Mudstones start with porosities of >60%, sandstones typically ~40% and carbonates sometimes as high as 70%. Results from hydrocarbon exploration wells show clear porosity reduction trends with depth.

In sediments compacted under self-weight, especially in sedimentary basins,the porosity profiles often show an exponential decrease, called Athy's law as first shown by Athy in 1930. A mathematical analytical solution was obtained by Fowler and Yang to show the theoretical basis for Athy's law. This process can be easily observed in experiments and used as a good approximation to many real data.

Usage examples of "compaction".

Fremen there were opening a way down into the sand with their compaction tools.

Had I realized that I could do the magic of compaction -- I did not know it was possible -- I would have brought it along.

Expansion or compaction -- maybe she could do something with the ribbon, then transform it.

Before sealing the sphincter, he reached out with the compaction tool, reversed its action.

The process of compaction and excursions that result in more compactions is a little like what happens in a collapsing star at the end of its life.

Sand rasped as he opened the sphincter and a burred fizzle of grains ran into the tent before he could immobilize it with a static compaction tool.

She thought of the compaction tool and the other strange instruments in the pack.

The beam was still out there but without the cosmic dust compaction it could no longer be observed.

The compaction also resulted in physical and chemical changes in the organic matter, eventually resulting in the formation of oil in the pores of this source rock.