Ground Improvement Technique

Dr. Anjan Patel

Civil Engg. Department
Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology, Nagpur
Email: anjanp14@gmail.com
Tel # 0712 2801531 1
Ground Improvement ?

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Definition

• Methods which are capable of improving certain

characteristics of the poor ground for civil
engineering construction
Or
• controlled alteration of the state, nature or mass
behaviour of ground materials in order to achieve an
intended satisfactory response to existing or projected
environmental and engineering actions.

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Ground problem !

It is the problematic Soil only that has made the tower of Pisa famous !!

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Failure due to problematic soil

Collapsible Soil Swelling Soil

Liquefiable Soil Slope instability

Karst topography Excessive seepage

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Decision Matrix if Ground Improvement Required ?
A sample method

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 Necessity & Choice of Ground Improvement

Problematic Cases
Collapsible soil
Options Available Consideration
Liquefiable soil
Filling materials Remove & Replace ? Technical,
Bypass? Practical,
Loose deposits Economical &
Location Change?
Swelling soil Political Issues
Design Alteration?
Soft and marshy ground
Karst topography Cost, Time, Purpose, Volume
Non-uniform soil/rock strata of Treatment area, Soil
Properties, Accessibility,
Potential for slope instability Availability of materials,
Excessive seepage Equipment & Manpower,
Environmental factor, Local
High lift pressure experience and Preference
Erosion, piping
Ground Improvement
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 Methods
Stone Columns, Soil Nails, Deep Soil Nailing,
Ground Reinforcement Micropiles, Jet Grouting, Ground,Anchors,
(Horizontal or vertical) : Geosynthetics, Fiber reinforcement, LimeColumns,
Vibro-Concrete Column, Mechanically Stabilized
Earth, Biotechnical Mechanical/
Deep Dynamic Compaction, Drainage/Surcharge, Physical/
Ground Improvement : Electro-osmosis, Compaction grouting, Blasting, Chemical or
Surface Compaction Hydraulic
Soil Cement, Lime Admixtures, Flyash, Dewatering, modification
Ground Treatment : Heating/Freezing, Vitrification

Temporary Short-term Long-term

dewatering or ground freezing some forms of grouting, or soil nailing, vibro-replacement,

use of diaphragm walls curtain grouting of a dam etc.

One or More than one of the above

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Understanding Soil for ground
improvement !!

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Basic principles of soil improvement techniques

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Basic principles of different methods

Continued…
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Results of Ground Improvement
✓ To increase the bearing capacity

✓ To control deformations and accelerate consolidation

✓ To provide lateral stability

✓ To form seepage cut-off and environmental control

✓ To increase resistance to liquefaction

✓ To improve the working site conditions

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Choice of methods with soil types

(J.K. Mitchell, Innovations in Ground Stabilization, 1972)

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Choice of methods with volume of treatment area

Method Maximum effective Method Maximum effective

depth & economical size of depth & economical size of
treatment area treatment area

Blasting 18m but not near surface: Can Pre-loading >1000 Sq.m
treat small area

Vibratory roller 1.5-3.0m: Any size of area Dynamic 30m: >15,000 to 30,000
compaction Sq.m

Grouting Unlimited: Small area Vibro-flotation 30m: >1000 Sq.m

Electro-osmosis 10-20m: Small area Stone columns 20m: >1500 Sq.m

Heating/Freezing 15m: Small area Chemical Lime 45m: > 1000 Sq. m
piles

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 Choice of methods with purpose
Methods Bearing Settlement Lateral Env. Liquefaction Method Bearing Settlement Lateral Env. Liquefaction
Capacity Control Stability Control resistance Capacity Control Stability Control resistance

Vibro- √ √ √ Stone √ √ √ √
Compaction/ Columns
Blasting/
Preloading

Dynamic √ √ √ √ Permeation √ √ √
Compaction Grouting

Soil nailing √ Electro- √ √

heating

Mechanical √ √ √ Jet √ √ √ √ √
Stabilization/ grouting/
Micropiles/ Deep soil
Fibre- mixing/
reinforcement Lime
column

Vacuum √ √ Ground √ √
consolidation/ freezing
Electro-
osmosis

Lightweight √ Vitrificatio √
Fill n

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◊◊◊ = Main benefit
◊ = Secondary benefit
Benefit
Technique Higher Less/ more Faster Ground water Reduced Increased Improved
Bearing Even Settlement control Liquefaction Erosion slope / face
Capacity settlement potential resistance stability
Vibro-replacement
◊◊◊ ◊◊◊ ◊ ◊◊◊ ◊
Dynamic Compaction
◊◊◊ ◊◊◊ ◊◊◊ ◊
Pre compression
◊◊◊ ◊◊◊
Vertical Drainage
◊◊◊ ◊◊◊ ◊◊◊ ◊
Reinforcing soil / soil
nailing
◊ ◊ ◊ ◊◊◊
Structural fill
◊ ◊◊◊ ◊
Lime/cement admixture
◊◊◊ ◊ ◊ ◊◊◊ ◊ ◊
Permeation grouting
◊ ◊ ◊◊◊ ◊ ◊◊◊
Cavity grouting
◊ ◊◊◊ ◊
Ground freezing
◊◊◊ ◊◊◊
Slurry cut off trench &
pumping
◊◊◊ ◊ ◊
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 Densification

Dynamic compaction Vibro-compaction Compaction grouting Blasting

Key Issues:
% Fine in Soils
Ability to dissipate pore water pressure
Proximity to structures

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Consolidation

Pre-loading with/without vertical drains

Electro-osmosis Vacuum consolidation

Key Issues:
Stability during surcharge placement
Clogging of vertical drains
Maintenance of vacuum 19
 Reinforcement

Mechanical stabilization Soil nailing Micropiles

Stone column
Key Issues:
Load transfer to reinforcing element
Failure surface
Arrangement of reinforcing elements
Durability
Compatibility between soil & reinforcing elements
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Chemical treatment

Permeation/Jet grouting Lime column Deep soil mixing

Key Issues:
Soil-grout compatibility and reactivity
Operational parameter
Column verticality
Durability and long-term performance

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Thermal stabilization

Permeation/Jet grouting Vitrification

Key Issues:
Degree of soil saturation
Ground water movement
Heat transfer
Impact on utilities and structures

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Electrotreatment

Key Issues:
Electrical conductivity of soils
Ionic characterization of the contaminants
Impact on buried objects and utilities

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Micropiling

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Stone Columns

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Grouting
Important Parameters
Groutibility
Stability
Setting time
Permanence
Toxicity
Voids/fissure/crack
Soil grout compatibiity
Grouting pressure
Grouting location/depth/
sequence

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Soil Nails

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Construction Dewatering

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 Soil Compaction

Compactive
effort
+ water
=

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 Compaction curves
Dry density

Soil grains densely packed

(d)

- good strength and stiffness

d, max - low permeability

optimum
water content Water
content 30
 Line of Optimum

Compaction curves
Dry density (d)

for different efforts

Line of optimum

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 Field Compaction

Different types of rollers ➢ Smooth-wheel roller

(clockwise from right):

➢ Vibratory roller

• Pneumatic rubber
➢ Sheepsfoot roller tired roller
Field Compaction
Smooth Wheeled Roller

Compacts effectively only to 200-300 mm; therefore,

place the soil in shallow layers (lifts)
 Field Compaction
Sheepsfoot Roller

➢ Provides kneading action; “walks out” after compaction

➢ Very effective on clays
Field Compaction
Impact Roller

➢ Provides deeper (2-3m) compaction. e.g., air field

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 Cement Stabilization
Applicable to inorganic soils which can be pulverized (max. organic content 2%)
More specific area of soils require more quantity of cement
Presence of clay causes problems of pulverization, mixing and compaction
(Lime/Cacl2 can be added)
Presence of deleterious salts such as sulphate is to be checked (affect setting time of
cement and subsequent disruption of soil-cement structure)
Suitable Soil
LL<40%; PI<18%; Max.particle size=75mm; Passing 4.5mm sieve >50%;
Passing 425µ sieve >15%; Passing 75µ sieve <50%
Amount of cement
Gravel-5-10%; Sands-7-12%; Silts-12-15%; Clays-12-20%

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 Bitumen Stabilization
Not directly added to soil (after heating/emulsions/ cutback bitumen)
Suitable Soil
LL<40%; PI<18%; Max.particle size <1/3rd the compacted thickness of the treated
soil layer; Greater than 50% finer than 4.76mm; 35-100% finer than 0.42mm; Greater
than 10% but less than 50% finer than 0.075mm
Not effective in organic matter of acid origin; fine grained soil with high pH
and dissolved
Amount of cement
An crease in asphalt content gives better results (however optimal quantity for proper
compaction).

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 Chemical stabilization & other
stabilizing agents
Lime stabilization (ion exchange/depression of double layer of soil colloidal
because of cation concentration/ expansion of double layer due to high pH of lime
followed by Pozzolanic action)
Increase PI of low plasticity soil & decrease PI of high plasticity soil
Calcium & Sodium chlorides; Lignins
Natural polymers (Vinsol resin-waterproofing of fine grained soil; Rosin-formation of
insoluble gel leading to soil stabilization; Resin stabilizer321-Reduce the rate and
amount of water adsorption; Stabinol-waterproofs the coarser soil; NSP-121 & NSP-
252 & NVX-water repellency to some soils;)
Synthetic Resin Aniline-furfural- waterproofing and imparts strength to soil; Polyvinyl
Acetate & Resorcinol-formaldehyde-Give high strength to Sands
Aggregants (organic salts & polymeric materials) & Dispersants (phosphates,
sulphonates, versanates)
Nanoadditives Nanoclays(montmorillonite, bentonite, kaolinite,hectorite, and
halloysite); Nano-silica; Nano-CuO, Carbon-Nanotube, Nano-MgO, orNano-alumina
Biological process Biocementation; Bioclogging, Biomineralization, Biofilm 40
 Soil Stabilization

Important factors: Stabilizing agent; Selection of roller; Compaction layer thickness;

Mixing and spreading; Compaction effort; Moisture content 41
In situ Compaction Monitoring

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 Compaction Control

-a systematic exercise where you check

at regular intervals whether the
compaction was done to specifications.

e.g., 1 test per

• Minimum dry density
1000 m3 of
• Range of water content
compacted soil

Field measurements (of d) obtained using field tests

Biotechnical soil
stabilization

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Factors affecting applications of
microorganisms:

Screening and identification of suitable microorganisms

Optimization of microbial activity in situ

Biosafety of the application

Cost effectiveness : Most important for large‐scale application

Stability of soil properties after biomodification

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 Applications
• Reduce permeability of soil – Selective zonal
bioremediation – Harbour and dam control – Earthquake
liquefaction mitigation-increasing bearing capacity of
soils
• To reduce drain channel erosion
• To form grout curtains to diminish migration of heavy
metals and organic pollutants • To prevent piping of
dams and dikes
• Repair cracks in concrete – Seal unforeseen leaks in the
sheet piling screens around construction wells
• Stabilising pollutants from soil by the binding.
• Treating pavement surface. 48
Limitations/Requirement
• Depth of penetration depends on size of
microorganism used.
• It requires optimal pH, salinity, oxidation ‐ reduction
potential, concentration of nutrients and water
content.
• Microbial process is slow.
• Bioclogging and biocementation requires data of o
Growth o Biosynthesis o Biodegradation o
Bioreduction o Biooxidation o Specific enzymatic
activities o Precipitation o Crystallization o Adhesion.
• No large scale testing done yet!
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Geosynthetics Materials

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Future challenges & Scope/Need of the time

To achieve reductions in quantities of material used

Prevention and mitigation of natural disasters, treatment

Recycling of industrial wastes, remediation of polluted soils, development of

brownfield sites

Maintenance and rehabilitation of existing structures

Environmental friendly ground improvement techniques

Automation of instruments

Development of new guidelines/specification for implementation of techniques

(case-by-case basis)

Successful implementation of newly developed techniques (e.g. use of Nanosoils,

bioenzymes, biotechnical stabilization etc.)
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