Compaction drum and method of compaction

A compaction machine comprising:

• a frame;
• a power source mounted on the frame;
• and
• at least one compaction drum rotatably mounted to the frame and operably coupled to the power source, the at least one compaction drum including:
• an outer surface defining a width;
• a plurality of pads disposed on the outer surface of the compaction drum and positioned in at least one row, each of the plurality of pads disposed circumferentially spaced apart relative to one another on the outer surface, and each of the plurality of pads defining a first height;
• and
• a plurality of ribs disposed on the outer surface and positioned in said at least one row, each of the plurality of ribs connected between adjacent pads of the plurality of pads, and each of the plurality of ribs defining a second height,
• wherein the second height of each of the plurality of ribs is equal to the first height of each of the plurality of pads, and
• wherein each said at least one row has an alternating configuration of the pads and the ribs connected between the adjacent pads that extends in a same plane continuously circumferentially around the outer surface of the compaction drum.

A method for compacting a soil surface using a compaction machine, the method comprising:

• providing, on the compaction machine, at least one compaction drum;
• providing, on the compaction drum, a plurality of pads positioned in each of a plurality of rows, each of the plurality of pads disposed circumferentially spaced apart relative to one another, and each of the plurality of pads defining a first height;
• providing, on the compaction drum, a plurality of ribs positioned in each of the plurality of rows each of the plurality of ribs connected between adjacent pads of the plurality of pads, and each of the plurality of ribs defining a second height equal to the first height of each of the plurality of pads;
• forming, by the plurality of pads, a plurality of recesses positioned in each of the plurality of rows on the soil surface, each of the plurality of recesses defining a third height equal to the first height of each of the plurality of pads;
• and
• forming, by the plurality of ribs, a plurality of channels positioned in each of the plurality of rows on the soil surface, each of the plurality of channels connected between adjacent recesses of the plurality of recesses, and each of the plurality of channels defining a fourth height equal to the third height of each of the plurality of recesses.