verfüllen

Verfüllen is a term used in civil engineering and related fields to describe the process of filling a void, excavation, or space with material to form a stable mass. The objective is to restore bearing capacity, seal cavities, manage drainage, or prepare space for subsequent construction work. The term is used in construction, mining, environmental remediation, and archaeology.

Materials used vary with purpose and site conditions; common fills include natural soils such as sand, gravel, and silt, crushed stone, recycled or engineered fills with defined density, and sometimes concrete or cement-stabilized mixes. The selection considers strength, permeability, settlement, and compatibility with adjacent structures.

Placement is typically executed in lifts with compaction to achieve a target dry density or relative compaction. Field tests (for example, in-situ density measurements and moisture-content checks) ensure compliance with design requirements. Groundwater management, drainage, and frost protection are integral to the process.

Applications include backfilling excavations for foundations and basements, trench backfill for utilities, construction of embankments, sealing voids in mining or tunneling, and remediation efforts where voids or contaminated zones must be isolated. Careful planning is required to prevent excessive settlement, differential settlement, or environmental impact. The term derives from the German verb füllen with the prefix ver-, denoting filling a space or completing a filling operation.