GROUND IMPROVEMENT TECHNIQUES

GROUND IMPROVEMENT
The methods which are capable of improving certain characteristics of soft ground for civil engineering constructions are all considered as ground improvement techniques.

GROUND IMPROVEMENT TECHNIQUES

Mechanical Stabilization Chemical Stabilization Thermal Modification Methods Hydraulic Modification Reinforcement Method Grouting

MECHANICAL STABILIZATION
1. 2. 3.

Vibro Compaction Vacuum Consolidation Preloading

1.

Vibro-Compaction

1. Rearrangement of soil particles into denser configuration by use of powerful depth vibration. 2. A ground improvement process for densifying loose sands to create stable foundation soils. 3. It is performed with specially designed vibrating probes. After probe reaches required depth, a granular material such as sand is added to fill void spaces created by vibrator.

Applications

Reduction of foundation settlements. Reduction of risk of liquefaction due to seismic activity. Permit construction on granular fills.

2. Vacuum Consolidation 1. Effective means for improvement of saturated soft soils. The soil site is covered with an airtight membrane and vacuum is created underneath it by using dual venture and vacuum pump. 2. It can provide equivalent preloading of about 4.5m high conventional surcharge fill. Soil is preloaded by reducing pore pressure while maintaining constant total stress.

Applications
Replace

standard pre-loading techniques eliminating the risk of failure. Combine with a water pre-loading in scare fill area. The method is used to build large developments on thick compressible soil. Combine with embankment pre-load using the increased stability

3. Preloading 1. Process of placing additional vertical stress on compressible soil to remove pore water over time. 2. The pore water dissipation reduces total volume causing settlement. 3. Due to its time dependent nature, delaying projects make it a nonfeasible aternative.

Applications
Reduce

post-construction Settlement Reduce secondary compression. Densification Improve bearing capacity

CHEMICAL STABILIZATION
Improving the engineering properties of soils used for pavement base courses, sub base courses, and subgrades by the use of additives which are mixed into the soil to effect the desired improvement.

Additives Used : Lime

Lime can be used to treat soils in order to improve their workability and load-bearing characteristics in a number of situations. Quicklime is frequently used to dry wet soils at construction sites and elsewhere, reducing downtime and providing an improved working surface. An even more significant use of lime is in the modification and stabilization of soil beneath road and similar construction projects. Use of lime can substantially increase the stability, impermeability, and load-bearing capacity of the subgrade

Portland Cement

A cement-modified soil (CMS) is a soil material that has been treated with a relatively small proportion of Portland cement. The objective of the treatment is to amend undesirable properties of problem soils or substandard materials so that they are suitable for use in construction. The amount of cement used will dictate whether modification or stabilization has occurred.

Fly Ash

A chemical additive consisting mainly of silicon and aluminium compounds, is a by- product of combustion of coal. It is mixed with lime and water to produce hard cement like mass. Its role in stabilization is to act as pozzolan or as a filler material to reduce air voids.

Calcium Chloride

It is a chemical additive that has ability to absorb moisture from air until it liquifies into a solution. Its presence in moisture of soil lowers its freezing temperature. For this reason, calcium chloride is proven stabilizing additive for cold climatic conditions. If water in soil cant freeze, there is less soil movement (i.e, frost heave) making it much more stable.

Bitumen

Bitumen is a mechanical additive that occurs naturally or as a by-product of petroleum distillation. Bitumen makes soil stronger and resistant to water and frost. The use of bitumen can lead to fewer weather related delays during construction and makes compaction easier and more consistent.

THERMAL MODIFICATION METHODS

1. 2.

Heating Ground Freezing

1.

Heating

1. Breaks the soil particle down to form a crystalline or glass product. 2. Permanently alters the properties of soil. 3. Temperature can range between 300 to 1000 degree celsius depending upon the type of soil. 4. Impact on adjacent structures and utilities

Applications

Immobilization of radioactive or contaminated soil Densification and stabilization

2.

Ground Freezing

1. Use of refrigeration to convert in-situ pore water to ice. 2. The ice acts as cement or glue joining together the adjacent particles of soil or blocks of rocks to increase their combined strength and make them impervious

Applications

Temporary support for an excavation Prevention of groundwater flow into excavated area Temporary slope stabilization Temporary containment of toxic/hazardous waste contamination

HYDRAULIC MODIFICATION
Free excess water is removed from the soil by providing vertical drains such as Sand Drains

Sand Drains
1. Sand drains are installed under a surcharge load to accelerate drainage of impervious soil and thus speed up consolidation. 2. These drains provide shorter path for water to flow through to get away from soil. 3. Time to drain clay layers can be reduced from years to couple of months.

Applications
1. In treatment of soils having high water content and low permeability 2. Used in consolidation of extensive areas of loading such as airport runways, reservoirs, etc.

REINFORCEMENT METHOD
Vertical Reinforcement- Piles, Stone Columns Horizontal Reinforcement- Soil Nailing, Geo-Synthetic Products

1. Piles
1. Small diameter piles capable of sustaining high loads. 2. Drilling equipment and method allows Drilling through virtually every ground condition, natural and artificial, with minimum vibration, disturbances and noise, at any angle below horizontal.

Applications

For structural support and stability. Foundations for new structures. Repair/Replacement of existing foundations Arresting/Prevention of movement Soil strengthening and protection

2. Stone Columns
1. Columns of dense, crushed stone designed to increase bearing capacity and reduce settlement. 2. Useful for cohesive and layered soils. 3. Provide efficient drainage path for pore water pressure dissipation. Two methods of stone column construction (i) Top feed method (ii) Bottom feed method

(i) Top feed method In this technique, jetting water is used to remove soft material, stabilize the probe hole, and ensure that the stone backfill reaches the tip of the vibrator.

(ii) Bottom feed method It uses the same vibrator probes as top feed method, but with the addition of a hopper and supply tube to feed the stone backfill directly to the tip of the vibrator.

Applications

Reduction of foundation settlement Impove bearing capacity/ Reduce footing size requirements Slope stabilization Permit shallow footing construction

3. Soil Nailing
1. As a remedial measure to treat unstable natural soil slopes or for allowing safe over steepening of new and existing soil slopes. 2. It involves insertion of relatively slender reinforcing elements into slope. 3. A rigid facing or isolated soil nail plates may be used at surface. A flexible reinforcing mesh may be held against soil face.

Applications

Stabilization of rail and highway cut slopes. Excavation returning structures for high rise buildings and underground facilities. Existing structures such as failing retaining walls and bridge abutments to provide long term stability without demolition and rebuild costs.

4. Geo-Synthetic Products : Geotextiles

Flexible sheets made up of synthetic plastic or rubber as well as fabrics made impermeable by impregnation.

Basic Functions

Drainage : Collecting and redirecting seepage water within a soil mass or adjacent to retaining wall culverts and tunnel linings. Filtration : Allows seepage from water bearing layer while retaining soil particles. Separation : Prevents mixing of adjacent dissimilar soils during construction or repeated external loading. Reinforcement : Inclusion of fabric to provide tensile strength, redistribution of stresses increasing stability of soil mass and reducing earth pressure.

Applications

In pavements on soft soils for increasing bearing capacity. In rails to prevent ballast contamination and distribute load on subgrade. In embankments to improve stability and provide drainage. In retaining structures to reinforce and protect backfill. On natural slopes to protect against erosion. In rivers and reservoirs, to improve traditional filter layers and for erosion control.

GROUTING
Injection of special liquid or slurry material called grout into ground for purpose of improving soil or rock. Grouting Methods Intrusion grouting Permeation grouting Compaction grouting Jet grouting

Intrusion grouting

Consists of filling joints or fractures with grout Primary benefit is reduction in hydraulic conductivity Used to prepare foundation and abutments for dams Usually done using cementitious grouts

Permeation

grouting

Injection of thin grouts into the soil Once the soil cures, becomes a solid mass Done using chemical grouts Used for creating groundwater barriers or preparing ground before tunnelling

Compaction grouting

When low-slump compaction grout is injected into granular soils, grout bulbs are formed that displace and densify the surrounding loose soils. Used to repair structures that have excessive settlement

Jet grouting

Uses a special pipe with horizontal jets that inject grout into the ground at high pressures. An erosion/ replacement system that creates an engineered, in situ soil/cement product known as Soilcrete.

THANK YOU
Presented By Abhishek Koul 0909003 Submitted to Mrs. Aarti Chouksey Astt. Prof. Civil Engg. Deptt.