A vibratory roller compacts by shaking its steel drum many times a second while it rolls. Three numbers decide how well that works on your material: amplitude (how far the drum moves), frequency (how often it moves) and centrifugal force (how hard each blow lands). This guide explains each one using the published figures of the LICH road roller range, so you can read a spec sheet and pick a vibratory roller that fits the job.
How a vibratory roller compacts
Inside the drum, an eccentric weight spins on a shaft. As it turns, it pushes the drum down and lifts it slightly on every revolution. Each downward stroke sends a pressure wave into the layer below, and the particles shuffle into a denser arrangement. Static weight alone presses the top of the layer; the vibration reaches further down, which is why a vibratory roller can compact thicker lifts of soil and aggregate in fewer passes.
Most heavy single drum vibratory roller models have two eccentric settings. Spinning the shaft one way stacks the weights for high amplitude; the other way splits them for low amplitude. The operator switches between the two from the seat.
Amplitude: depth of compaction
Amplitude is the drum’s movement, quoted in millimetres. On a vibratory roller, a larger amplitude drives the energy deeper, so it suits thick lifts of granular fill, crushed stone and rock fill. A smaller amplitude keeps the energy near the surface and is used for thin layers, the final passes and materials that would loosen or crack under heavy blows.
On our heavy single drum machines the two settings run from 1.6 / 0.8 mm (LCS212H, LC212B) to 2.0 / 1.0 mm (LCD216H). The 8 t LCS208H works at a single 0.4 mm amplitude, which matches the thinner road base layers it is built for. The tandem LC214 uses 0.8 / 0.4 mm because asphalt needs far less drum travel than rock fill.
Frequency: speed and surface finish
Frequency is the number of blows per second, in hertz. On a vibratory roller, higher frequency spaces the impacts closer together along the mat, which gives a smoother, more even surface at a given travel speed. Lower frequency with high amplitude gives fewer, heavier blows for deep soil work.
The hydraulic single drum models pair 28 or 29 Hz with high amplitude and 35 Hz with low amplitude. The mechanical-drive LC210B, LC212B and LC216B run at 30 Hz. Small asphalt rollers work much faster: 50 Hz on the LC203 and 70 Hz across the compact LC600 to LC1200 tandem rollers, where light drums need many quick blows to close a thin asphalt layer.
Centrifugal force and static linear load
Centrifugal force is the dynamic load the spinning eccentric adds to the drum. Static linear load is the drum’s own weight spread across its width, in newtons per centimetre. Together they tell you how hard the vibratory roller hits the ground.
| Model | Operating mass | Amplitude (high / low) | Frequency | Centrifugal force | Static linear load |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LCS208H | 8,000 kg | 0.4 mm | 43 Hz | 70 kN | 230 N/cm |
| LC212B | 12,000 kg | 1.6 / 0.8 mm | 30 Hz | 260 / 160 kN | 280 N/cm |
| LCS212H | 12,000 kg | 1.6 / 0.8 mm | 29 / 35 Hz | 260 / 160 kN | 286 N/cm |
| LCS214H | 14,000 kg | 1.7 / 0.8 mm | 29 / 35 Hz | 290 / 180 kN | 326 N/cm |
| LCD214H | 14,000 kg | 1.7 / 0.8 mm | 28 / 35 Hz | 290 / 180 kN | 373 N/cm |
| LC216B | 16,000 kg | 1.8 / 0.9 mm | 30 Hz | 320 / 180 kN | 373 N/cm |
| LCD216H | 16,000 kg | 2.0 / 1.0 mm | 28 / 35 Hz | 290 / 180 kN | 428 N/cm |
| LCS718H | 18,000 kg | 1.9 / 0.95 mm | 28 / 35 Hz | 390 / 280 kN | 470 N/cm |
Figures from the LICH product catalogue, read on 14 October 2026. Each model page lists the full specification.
Reading the table
Three patterns stand out. First, centrifugal force climbs with vibratory roller weight, from 70 kN on the 8 t roller to 390 kN on the 18 t LCS718H. Second, two rollers of the same weight can differ: the double-drive LCD214H puts 373 N/cm on the ground against 326 N/cm for the rear-drive LCS214H. Third, high-amplitude force on the 16 t LC216B (320 kN) is higher than on the 16 t LCD216H (290 kN), while the LCD216H has the larger amplitude and static load. A buyer compacting rock fill would weigh force and amplitude; one working wet clay on slopes would weigh the double drive and its 35% gradeability.
Matching the vibratory roller to the material
- Rock fill and coarse gravel in thick lifts: 16–18 t, high amplitude, low frequency. The LC216B, LCD216H and LCS718H are built for this.
- Highway and airport subgrade: 12–14 t, switching from high amplitude on the first passes to low amplitude on the last.
- Road base and trench backfill in thinner lifts: the 8 t LCS208H with its single 0.4 mm setting.
- Asphalt: a tandem vibratory roller with low amplitude and high frequency, such as the LC214 (0.8 / 0.4 mm, 40 / 46 Hz) or the compact 70 Hz models for patches and paths.
- Cohesive soil and clay: vibration does less on its own; the LCS718H accepts a removable padfoot kit for this work.
Common mistakes with a vibratory roller
Running a vibratory roller at high amplitude on a thin top layer can loosen what the earlier passes compacted, so switch to low amplitude for finishing. Leaving vibration on while the roller stands still marks the surface; vibration should run only while the vibratory roller moves. On asphalt, vibrating a mat that has cooled too far can crack it, so most crews turn vibration off for the last static passes. Travel speed matters too: going faster spreads the blows further apart, which is why the hydraulic models offer stepless speed control.
Where to go next
Compare every single drum vibratory roller in one table on the single drum roller for sale page, or the asphalt models on the double drum roller page. For drum weight by job size, see the road roller weight guide. Send us your material, lift thickness and daily area, and we will suggest a vibratory roller and send the matching specification sheet.