International Journal of Advanced Science and Engineering Research www.ijaser.

in
Volume: 1, Issue: 1, June 2016 ISSN: 2455-9288

A STUDY ON GROUND IMPROVEMENT

USING DEEP VIBRO TECHNIQUE
R.Oviyaa , Manikandanb
P.G. Student, Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering, Karur College of Engineering, Karur, India 1
Head of Department, Department of Civil Engineering, Karur College of Engineering, Karur, India 2

Abstract: Soil improvement is the broadest sense in alteration of property of the soil to increase its engineering
performance. The result of application of ground improvement technique may increase the strength, reduces
compressibility and permeability and improves the ground condition by controlling the seepage and liquefaction
of soil . The type and selection of improvement techniques can be considered by factors such as type of soil,
depth of treatment, type of structure, distribution of load, availability of materials, settlement factors, properties
of soil and environmental considerations etc. The techniques which increases the ground condition includes
compaction, vibration, drainage methods, stabilization techniques, soil reinforcement and application of
geotextiles and geomembranes. In this paper we are going to see how the vibration techniques helps in
improvement of ground condition in effective way. Vibration techniques includes both vibro compaction and
vibro displacement technique. Vibro compaction methods are effectively used in rapid densification of saturated
non cohesive soils. This method produces shock waves on loose deposit materials and reduces the liquefaction
and settlement of soils. The excess pore water pressure is also reduced by this technique. On the other hand,
vibro displacement method consists of active displacement of soil followed by vibration and backfills the pores
beneath by soil compaction. In case of construction to be done above the coarse grained soils with less fines, this
method can be implemented to improve the ground and soil. This paper on following briefly explains the vibro
technique and its applications in ground improvement.

I. INTRODUCTION

India has large coastline exceeding 6000kms. In view of the developments on coastal areas in the
recent past,large number of ports and industries are being built. In addition, the availability of land for
the development of commercial, housing, industrial and transportation, infrastructure etc. are scarce
particularly in urban areas. This necessitated the use of land, which has weak strata, wherein the
geotechnical engineers are challenged by presence of different problematic soils with varied
engineering characteristics. Many of these areas are covered with thick soft marine clay deposit, with
very low shear strength and high compressibility. The Vibro Stone Column technique is one of the
most widely-used ground improvement processes in the world. Vibro-Flotation is a collective term for
forms of ground improvement brought about by inserting a vibrating poker into the ground, and
includes Vibro-Compaction and Vibro-Replacement. The technique is continuing to gain popularity
today due to the considerable savings to cost and programme schedule. The improvement of ground
condition will have the following benefits:

o Reduces foundation settlement

o Increases bearing capacity
o Mitigates liquefaction potential
o Provides slope stabilization
o Prevents earthquake-induced lateral spreading
II. VIBRO COMPACTION

The vibrations imparted to the ground are predominantly horizontal and will increase the
relative density of soil if the granular content is greater than ≈90%. This process is referred to as
Vibro-Compaction, and has been used to compact loose sands to depths of 30m. However, the

Copyright © 2016 by the Authors. 896

This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits
unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
International Journal of Advanced Science and Engineering Research www.ijaser.in
Volume: 1, Issue: 1, June 2016 ISSN: 2455-9288

vibrations themselves have minimal effect on cohesive soils (clays and silts). Vibro compaction is an
established technique for stabilising fine granular soils prevalent in marine environments, and is
especially effective for sand compaction. The method is highly effective for land reclamation projects
and mitigating the risk of liquefaction in areas of the world subject to seismic activity.

Figure.1 Vibro Compaction

III. VIBRO REPLACEMENT

Vibro-replacement is a technique that builds load-bearing columns made from gravel or

crushed stone in cohesive soils and granular soils with high fines content. Vibro-replacement falls into
the category of deep vibratory compaction techniques in which loose or soft soil becomes improved
for building purposes by means of special depth vibrators. Many different structures can utilize this
method. Vibro-replacement has economic advantages over traditional soil improvement as well as
benefits of increased bearing capacity, increased shearstrength, increased resistance to liquefaction,
and reduction of settlement in soils.

Figure.2 Vibro Replacement

IV. PRINCIPLE

The stabilization of soils by displacing the soil radially, with the help of a deep vibrator, refilling the
resulting space with granular material and compacting the same with the vibrator is called vibrostone
columns or simply stone columns. In other words, stone columns are constructed where in the soft
soil is strengthened by replacing a certain percentage of soil with aggregate. The aggregate column
will act as a drainage channel to release the excess pore water present in the subsoil. The degree of
improvement of soft soils by stone columns is because of the densification of the surrounding soft soil
during the installation of stone column itself and the subsequent consolidation process occurring in
soft soil before the final loading of improved soil.

V. VIBRO- INSTALLATION TECHNQUES

Copyright © 2016 by the Authors. 897
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits
unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
International Journal of Advanced Science and Engineering Research www.ijaser.in
Volume: 1, Issue: 1, June 2016 ISSN: 2455-9288

(a) Stone Column Method:

The bored rammed stone columns are used in cohesive soils. In this technique, a casing pipe
is used to remove the cohesive soil protecting the sides of the bore, thus minimizing disturbance to the
surrounding soil. The stones are laid into the bore and rammed to a larger diameter as the casing pipe
is withdrawn. These columns achieve their strength by the lateral restraint offered by the surrounding
soil. It is therefore very essential that the shear strength of the surrounding soil not be reduced by the
construction of the stone column. Hence, the stone column technique could be adopted in clays of low
sensitivity. These columns also act as drainage paths to accelerate settlements under loading.

Figure.3 Bored Stone Columns

(b) Wet Top Feed Method:

In the Top Feed System, the poker is completely withdrawn after initial penetration to the
design depth. Stone (12-75mm in size) is then tipped into the hole in controlled volumes from the
ground surface allowing it to fall under gravity to the bottom side of hole. The column is compacted
in layers (the stone is forced downwards and outwards) through continued penetration and withdrawal
of the poker. The Top Feed System is suitable if the hole formed by the poker will remain open during
construction of the column. The wet top-feed system is normally used when improving soils above,
and below the water table of greater than about Cu = 15kPa soil strength Typical grading of the
granular material is about 20 to 75mm with stone column diameters of about 600 to 1000mm being
constructed.

Figure.4 Wet Top Feed Method

(c) Wet Bottom Feed Method:

Copyright © 2016 by the Authors. 898

This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits
unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
International Journal of Advanced Science and Engineering Research www.ijaser.in
Volume: 1, Issue: 1, June 2016 ISSN: 2455-9288

The wet bottom-feed system combines the benefit of improving very weak soils below the
water table with all the added advantages of the original and well proven water-flush construction
technique with the added ability over dry bottom-feed to surge for larger column diameter When
performed over water from a barge the disadvantages encountered on land such as provision of an
adequate working platform, water supply, drainage ditches, settlement lagoons, disposal of effluent
and contamination of the site surface disappear. The Aquacaster vibroflot is specially adapted for
marine projects. The vibroflot is penetrated to the required design depth and once design depth is
reached, water jetting is used to flush away loose materials and clear a 1m diameter cavity. As the
water flush clears the cavity the aquacaster’s hopper gate is opened to deliver a charge of stone that
exits from the tip of the vibroflot. The vibroflot is then re-inserted to compact the stone tightly into
the seabed, before being lifted slowly back to the surface. The sequence is repeated with the
Aquacaster re-inserted and withdrawn until a dense stone column has been formed to the surface.

Figure.5 Wet Bottom Feed Method

(d) Dry Bottom Feed Method:

This method involves essentially the same process as the dry bottom feed technique with a
couple variations. The practice does not need a custom machine. Instead, a crane supports the bottom
feed vibrator assembly. Penetration to the required depth occurs through the combination of vibrations
and the self-weight of the vibrator (Krishna et. al. 2004). The use of this method requires no
downward force to the vibrator head.

Figure.6 Dry Bottom Feed Method

(e) Offshore Bottom Feed Method:

Copyright © 2016 by the Authors. 899

This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits
unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
International Journal of Advanced Science and Engineering Research www.ijaser.in
Volume: 1, Issue: 1, June 2016 ISSN: 2455-9288

In this process, a barge or pontoon supports a crane and vibro string assembly, similar to the
dry bottom feed cranehung method (Krishna et. al. 2004). Location and penetration to the required
depth below sea level occurs through a combination of vibration, compressed air, and global
positioning system.

Figure.7 Offshore Bottom Feed Method

(f) Dredged Trench Method:

For marine structures requiring large bearing capacities and settlement performance. We can
install stone columns within dredged ground to provide additional densification prior to placement of
concrete caissons. A trench is dredged from the seabed to remove soft soils and sands before being
replaced with crushed rock. As shown on Figure 8, this crushed rock fill is then densified to provide a
solid foundation layer to support future marine structures An ‘overbuild’ layer of aggregate ballast is
firstly deposited above the filled trench before a vibroflot is penetrated through the overbuild stock
and into the rock mattress. The vibroflot is lowered into the water and allowed to penetrate to the base
of the rock mattress, with water jetting from the tip of the vibroflot used to aid penetration. The
vibroflot penetrates to the required depth, and then is slightly withdrawn and pushed back into the
stone at the base of the bore to construct the stone columns in a series of lifts in similar manner to the
top-feed system.

Figure.8 Dredged Trench Method

VI. FUNCTIONS

Stone column improves the shear strength of the subsoil to increase the bearing capacity. It
improves the stiffness of subsoil to decrease settlements. It has the ability to carry very high loads
Copyright © 2016 by the Authors. 900
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits
unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
International Journal of Advanced Science and Engineering Research www.ijaser.in
Volume: 1, Issue: 1, June 2016 ISSN: 2455-9288

since columns are ductile. It is more economical than piling. Rapid consolidation of subsoil is
facilitated in stone column. Immediate increase of shear strength and friction angle of treated soil
occurs.

VII. DEMERITS

Sensitive clays do not adequately regain shear strength. Due to this, ground improvement by
stone column cannot be achieved in clays with sensitivity greater than 4. Stone columns when
installed at a distance of less than 3.66m can cause high lateral pressures and displacement of adjacent
structures. Severe cracks could be seen in structures close by the stone column site due to the
vibrations of 30-50Hz. Stone column installation in extremely cohesive clays and silts is suitable only
if preloading facility is available, especially for storage tank construction.

VIII. CONCLUSIONS

Soil improvement through vibro-replacement allows for construction of many structures on

soils previously unsuitable before enhancement. Utilizing the various methods of vibroreplacement
can improve soils of any type and under many circumstances.

IX. ACKNOWLEGEMENTS

The authors would like to thank their principal and civil faculties for information used in
preparation of the presentation associated with this paper.
X. REFERENCES
[1]. NHBC (1988) National House Building Council Standards, Vibratory ground improvement techniques.
[2]. Braja.M.Dass (1995) Geotechnical Engineering (Dec), pp 31-37.

Copyright © 2016 by the Authors. 901

This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits
unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.