Method Statement For PVD Work at SRP Project

IMPROVEMENT OF SYLHET TOWN BYPASS-GARRISON LINK TO SHAHPORAN
BRIDGE GHAT ROAD INTO 4.0 LANE HIGHWAY PROJECT
Contractor:Mir Akhter Hossain Ltd Client:24ECB
METHOD STATEMENT FOR PVD WORK
1. Introduction:
In construction of various structures on compressible, saturated soils like soft clay, excessive
settlement is a common problem to deal with. The ground improvement technique using
prefabricated vertical drains (PVD) is one of the most suitable methods to overcome this
problem. The sole purpose of vertical drain system is to shorten the drainage path of the pore
water from a low permeable layer to free water surface or to pre-installed drainage layer, thereby
accelerating the rate of primary consolidation or the process of settlement. Application of ground
improvement method using prefabricated vertical drains (PVD) coupled with surcharge or
preloading can significantly shorten the period of primary settlement.
The work consists of ground improvement using prefabricated vertical drains (PVD) of specified
quality in conjunction with vacuum consolidation up to depths required to stabilize the road
embankment which requires to be constructed over very soft compressible clay. The work is to
be carried out in marshy conditions some parts of which may be water-logged. The clay subsoil
is very weak and highly compressible and requires to be improved to increase its shear strength
as well as to minimize or eliminate post-construction settlement.
2. Typical Applications:
PVDs with surcharge as pre-loading method have been successfully applied in various projects.
PVDs are typically used as ground improvement system in-
• Construction of road, railway, embankment, airport and ports

• Industrial projects
• Land reclamation projects
1
Fig: 01
Time settlement curve of soft clay showing significant time reduction achieved by applying PVD
with surcharge loading
Fig: 02
2
3. Specifications for PVD:
3.1 General
PVD or Band Drains shall be of newly manufactured materials from an approved manufacturer.
The PVD or band drain shall be prefabricated made up of polypropylene drainage core wrapped
in a non-woven filter fabric made of polypropylene or similar material. The core shall be
fabricated with suitable drainage channels which shall provide continuous vertical drainage and
shall have the minimum properties specified herein. The filter jacket shall be capable of resisting
all bending, puncturing and tensioning subjected to during installation and design life of the
drain. The jacket shall allow free of passage of pure water to the core without loss of soil
material or piping.
3.2 Jacket
The Jacket shall be a synthetic non-woven geotextile capable of resisting all bending, punching
& tensile forces imposed during installation & shall be suitable to resist local damages such as
punching through the filter by sand / grave / partition. The material shall be sufficiently rigid to
withstand lateral earth pressure to embedment & surcharge so that vertical flow capacity through
the core is not adversely affected. The material shall be flexible to bend smoothly during
installation & induced consolidation settlement without damage. It shall also not undergo
cracking or peeling during installation of the drain.
3.3 Core
The core shall be a continuous plastic material fabricated to promote drainage along the axis of
vertical the drain.
3.4 Transportation and Storage

During transportation and storage, the drain shall be wrapped in heavy paper, burlap or similar
heavy duty protection covering. The drain shall be protected from sunlight, mud, dirt, dust,
debris and other detrimental substances during transport and on site storage. All materials which
are damaged during transportation, handling or storage and do not meet the minimum
requirements of the vertical drain specifications shall be rejected by the Engineer.
3
4. Vacuum Pumps and accessories:

Vacuum Consolidation system or equivalent recognized system such as Menard Vacuum
Consolidation system consisting of prefabricated band drains vertically installed from ground
surface into the soil mass to prescribed depth, a surface drainage system including a granular
medium (sand mat), horizontal drains and collector pipes leading to a vacuum pump system for
transmission of vacuum to the soil as well as discharging water and air out of the treated soil
mass. The proposed Vacuum Consolidation system shall create an accelerated isotropic
consolidation in the soil mass in a relatively short time, eliminating the need for long term and
potentially unstable surcharge loads. The applied vacuum pressure shall produce the same
equivalent pressures as exerted by a traditional preloading system of up to 3 to 5 m height of
embankment fill.
5. Installing Equipment:
A specially designed hydraulic leader attachment for the installation of vertical drain causing a
minimal disturbance to the existing soil will be used to execute the project. This leader
attachment is supported on a large excavator base rig.
The main features of the installation rig are:
•A large excavator or foundation rig base with enhanced hydraulics.

•A custom built leader for the required depth of penetration at the specific site location.
•A long stroke piston or winch enclosed within the leader.
•A mandrel (approximate dimensions: 120x60x10 mm thickness) which is pushed downwards
into the weak subsoil, and afterwards pulled upwards.
•A vibrator and or pre drill auger might be used in case the soil resistance is too high.
•A drain roller assembly
Technical data of typical medium-sized PVD installation equipment and accessories are shown
below.
Installation Rig Type of Base Machine: Excavator of suitable model CAT EL200B or larger
Model
Size (CAT EL200B) : 3.18m x 4.45m
Weight (CAT EL200B) : 20 ton
Pushing Force : 5.5 – 20 ton
4
Mandrel Lifting and Pushing : Hydraulic gear drive

Mast Height : 8m
Typical Mandrel Dimensions

Weight of Guide and Mandrel : 1.5 to 4 ton
Length of Mandrel : 12 to 20m
Cross-sectional Area of Mandrel : 60 to 70 cm2
Maximum Installation Depth : 11 to 19m
6. Method of Construction:
The construction of the ground improvement work involved preparation of the existing ground,
placement of local sand to raise ground level where required, installation of Prefabricated
Vertical Drains (PVDs), placement of a drainage blanket of coarse sand , and then pre-loading.
6.1 Working Platform
In order to make a working platform, at first local sand layer

will be placed over the leveled ground within the proposed
alignment after stripping of topsoil and removing of
unsuitable materials. The layer of the local sand will
be compacted using vibratory rollers to obtain a relative density
of approximately 85%.
If the original ground level for part length of the proposed
alignment is higher than the proposed formation level,
in such case existing soil shall be excavated up to
required depth to make a working platform.
The removal of unsuitable soil or excavated materials
shall certify related BOQ items. The working platform
should be kept free of standing water at all instances.
Fig: 03 PVD Equipment stands
over working platform
6.2 PVD Installation Procedure
A number of sections shall be defined and each section will be indicated by a letter/numerical
code. For each section a predefined installation depth for the drains will be required. This depth
5
shall be defined by refusal to establish the base of the clay layer. The surveyor sets out a section
based on the information from contract drawing (Fig: 4 & 5).
Fig: 04 Fig: 05
The anchor plate will be used to mark the position of the drain (Fig: 6). The drain will be placed
in position in the grid, with a tolerance of 150 mm.
Fig: 06 PVD point marked by anchor plate
The rig operator aligns the leader on top the drain location. The drain will be wrapped around the
fixture on the anchor plate (dimensions: 140x80x1 mm), dimensions might vary depending on
6
soil conditions, and the folded end of the wrapped drain will be pulled back into the mandrel,
until the plate rests against the base of the mandrel.
The hydraulic motors of the machine now push the mandrel to the design depth. The drains will
be installed to the depth as defined above, with a tolerance of 150 mm.
The operator will see on the display of the drain logger, if the mandrel has been inserted till the
required depth. This actual depth may vary due to irregularities in the layer profile; this has to be
taken into account by both CLIENT and CONTRACTOR. The details of PVD installation at
each location shall be recorded in proper daily installation record sheets.
Fig: 07 Measuring Gauge
On reaching the depth of the drains, the operation is reversed and the mandrel is withdrawn from
the PVD. The anchor plate locks itself at the driven depth such that the drain is fixed as the
mandrel rises. The drain roll is mounted on the side of leader allowing the drain to be fed into the
mandrel through a series of rollers, which prevent damage and minimize friction.
7
Once the mandrel clears the ground surface, the drain will be cut off approximately 250mm
above ground level. The drain is now installed. The rig operator will now align the leader onto
the next drain position and the above procedure will be repeated.
Fig: 08 Close-up view of PVD installation

6.3 Connection of PVD to Steel Anchor Plate
A length of approximately 150 mm of PVD is pulled out from the mandrel, wrapped around the
fixture on the steel anchor plate and folded back tightly. Due to the stiffness of the PVD, the
folded part then secures itself to the steel anchor plate. The drain is pulled back into the mandrel
until the plate rests against the mandrel.
Fig: 09 Connection of PVD to Steel Anchor Plate

8
6.4 PVD Joint and Lap Length

The last approx. 200 mm length of the old roll is guided into the beginning of the new roll. The
area of the overlap is then stapled together with sufficient staples to secure the strength of the
joint and to avoid the two ends becoming separated while the mandrel drives the PVD into the
ground.
Fig: 10 PVD Joint and Lap Length

6.5 Drain cuts
When the drain material snaps during installation, the mandrel will be retrieved and the drain
material will be guided again through the mandrel. A new drain will be installed at the same
position.
6.7 Obstructions
When the mandrel hits an obstruction which it cannot push through, the mandrel will be retrieved
and a new drain will be installed within 500 mm from the original position. If the object proves
to be large then the area will be clearly marked for further investigation.
9
6.8 Schematic Installation Procedure
10
6.9 Quality Assurance/Quality Control in installation

• Use appropriate size of Mandrel and anchor plate to minimize soil disturbance
• Use Mandrel with adequate stiffness to maintain verticality
• Apply appropriate penetration rate to avoid significant bending
• Check verticality during installation
6.10 Storage of the Vertical Drains on Site

Drains will be stored on site in a dry area and adequately covered to protect against deterioration,
before being transported to the drain machine.
6.11 Risk analysis
The users of the drain mast are the operator of the excavator and the assistant, who has to be
necessarily close to the mast to cut drains, install anchor plates and change rolls etc.
6.11.1 Risk: Contact between personnel and mast
Risk reducing measures:

-Operator and assistant have to take effective measures to protect them. This includes wearing a
helmet, safety shoes, according to applicable regulations.
- Operator and assistant should make clear appointments about operation sequence.
- All movements must be checked and operative before commencing operation and the controls
on the operating panel may be operated only from the cabin. The operator will always follow
instructions for traveling on slopes, near excavated areas or traveling to the work area.
- With all movements of the machine, the operator must keep his eye on the drain mast and the
assistant.
- In case of repair, the mast should first be lowered to the transport position. Climbing in the
mast is always prohibited.
11
6.11.2 Risk: Contact between mast and overhead power lines

- The machine must be kept at a safe distance from electrical aerial wires.
- If the machine should make contact with electrical aerial wires, it is not allowed to leave the
cabin before the electrical tension is shut off. People finding themselves near to the machine
must be warned not to approach the machine.
6.11.3 Risk: Collapsing of the crane

- The machine has to be positioned on a stable surface; therefore the thickness of the sand layer
has to be minimum 1.5 meters.
The Site representative and operator have to take weather conditions into account.
7. Drainage Blanket, Surcharge fill & Preloading:

A drainage blanket consisting of coarse sand (fineness modulus greater than 1.25) will be placed
over the local sand to facilitate draining of water to be collected by the PVDs. Thickness of the
drainage blanket layer is approximately 300 mm, which was designed to compensate the
settlement expected due to the consolidation. The lower 150 mm of the drainage blanket will be
placed before installation of the PVDs to provide a working platform for PVD installation. The
remainder of the drainage layer will be placed after installation of PVDs to allow the drains to
discharge into the sand layer. Surface of the sand blanket was adequately compacted using
vibratory rollers and then leveled. The degree of compaction of the sand layer was such that the
relative density of the compacted sand is at least 85%.
A surcharge load of sand fill will be placed over the drainage layer for pre-loading. Fill shall be
placed and properly compacted according to the rate of filling indicated in the Drawings.
Extra fill shall be placed to thickness specified in the Drawings as surcharge to speed up rate of
embankment settlement.
12
Surcharging fill shall be maintained for a period of time indicated in the Drawing and shall be
removed only with the approval of or when instructed by the Engineer.
The fill be capable of being compacted to the requirements as indicated on the drawing and shall
not comprise of: -
•material from swamps, marshes and bogs;
•peat, logs, stumps, perishable and toxic material;
•material susceptible to spontaneous combustion;
•PI value less than 5%;
8. Soil Instrumentation:
Platform Settlement Gauges and Open Standpipe Piezometers are required to be installed to
monitor ground settlement and dissipation of pore pressure during the ground improvement
works. They need to be installed at designated locations and depths as required by the Engineer-
in-charge. The Piezometers shall be installed in suitable boreholes and shall be protected with
protective pipes.
The instrument data shall be recorded at required time intervals and reports shall be submitted
regularly to the Engineer-in-charge together with suitable plots and analysis of the data.
9. Monitoring of Settlements:
9.1. Settlement of Subsoil

Settlement of subsoil due to fill is to be measured by means of settlement plates as shown in
Figure 1. Settlement plates are positioned before the fill is laid.
9.2 Location and protection of settlement plates

The settlements plates shall be placed at locations indicated on the drawing. They shall be
located in areas that are least affected by construction vehicles and plant. They shall be properly
protected with a wooden barricade, 1m high and labeled with visible reference numbers. Heavy
compaction plant shall not approach within 1.5m of projecting instruments. Damaged
instruments shall be replaced or repaired within seven days.
13
9.3 Frequency of measurement

The frequency or the interval of measurement is dependent on the rate of settlement of subsoil.
Close intervals are used during and shortly after fill has been laid. The intervals are increased
with increase in the duration of lapse time. The following can be used as a guide:
a) During filling
-Every morning before subsequent filling commences.
b) After a formation is reached
i) For first three months
- Every alternative day
ii) For fourth and subsequent months
- Between twice a weeks to once a fortnight depending on the rate of settlement as shown in the
example or as instructed by the Engineer, the time interval should allow reasonable settlement to
be plotted.
9.4 Temporary Bench Marks

The temporary bench marks will be installed at the nearby stable structure or remote from the
reclamation area and marked on an end bearing pile or similar structure.
9.5 Settlement Plates

The precise level settlement measurements shall be referenced to the temporary bench marks.
The measuring instruments shall be a precise level, capable of allowing readings to be read to
0.1mm.
9.6 Plotting
The result should be plotted during the period of measurement.
14
10. Conclusion:
A system of prefabricated vertical drains (PVDs) combined with vacuum preloading is an
effective method for accelerating soil consolidation. It is clear that the application of PVD
combined with surcharge preloading has become common practice and now considered to be one
of the most effective ground improvement techniques. There has always been a discrepancy
between the predictions and observed performance of embankment stabilized with prefabricated
vertical drain technique.
Prepared by Reviewed by Approved by

Planning Engineer Project Manager Project Team Leader
Mir Akhter Hossain Ltd Mir Akhter Hossain Ltd 24 Engineer Construction Brigade
15

Method Statement For PVD Work at SRP Project

Hochgeladen von

Dokumentinformationen

Originaltitel

Copyright

Verfügbare Formate

Dieses Dokument teilen

Dokument teilen oder einbetten

Freigabeoptionen

Stufen Sie dieses Dokument als nützlich ein?

Sind diese Inhalte unangemessen?

Copyright:

Verfügbare Formate

Method Statement For PVD Work at SRP Project

Hochgeladen von

Copyright:

Verfügbare Formate

IMPROVEMENT OF SYLHET TOWN BYPASS-GARRISON LINK TO SHAHPORAN

BRIDGE GHAT ROAD INTO 4.0 LANE HIGHWAY PROJECT

Contractor:Mir Akhter Hossain Ltd Client:24ECB