CV6312

GROUND ENGINEERING OVERVIEW OF SOIL

IMPROVEMENT
CV6312
I. Examples of ground failures
II. Objectives of Soil Improvement
SOIL IMPROVEMENT III. Various methods of Soil Improvement

1. Bearing capacity failure

I. Examples of Ground Note: Several tilted apartments caused by liquefaction, in

Failures
Fail res
‹ Bearing Capacity Failure
‹ Excessive Settlement
‹ Heaving or Soil Swelling
Reference: Seed H. B. “Analysis of Soil Liquefaction: Niigata Earthquake”
Niigata, Japan, 1964 are shown. Saturated & loose sand
layer
y was found to be the supporting
pp g soil of those
apartment buildings. During Niigata earthquake, pore-
water pressure in the saturated sand increased so high
that effective stress reduced. When the effective stress
becomes zero, i.e., there is physically no contact each
other among sand particles, liquefaction occurs.
Consequently, the saturated sand layer lost its strength,
therefore bearing g capacity
p y failure occurred and the
apartment tilted.
Journal of the Soil Mechanics and Foundations Division, Vol. 93, No. 3,
May 1967, pp. 83-108

Photo reference: http://www.liquefaction.com Source: University of Washington

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Bearing capacity failure (cont.) 2. Excessive settlement

Sandboils due to liquefaction caused by Niigata earthquake

Note: Tower of Pisa is shown in the

Note:
N t Various
V i sandboils
db il causedd by
b liquefaction
li f ti d i
during photo above. The tower was built on T
Tower
the earthquake in Niigata, Japan, 1964, are shown. Due a raft foundation (ring) resting on
to the high pore-water pressure when the earthquake 8 m Loose sand
sand and high compressible clay 11 m
occurred, there was upward seepage of water in the layers.
sand layer which carried smaller soil particles together
to the ground surface. Probably due to non uniformity of the
ground layers below the Tower, high
The upward flow of water together with sand particles compressibility of clay layer, and non Compresible clay
caused
d channeling
h li fl
flows, and
d produced
d d sandboils
db il as uniform pressure, excessive total
shown above. and differential settlement occurred.

Photo reference: http://www.liquefaction.com Source: University of Washington

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3. Heave
‹ Irregularities of road surface due to heave of expansive soil

II. Object
Objectives
es o
of So
Soil
Note: Swelling soils contain a high percentage of
certain kinds of clay particles that are capable of
Improvement
absorbing large quantities of water. Soil volume may
expand 10 percent or more as the clay becomes wet.
The powerful force of expansion is capable of
exerting pressures on foundations, slabs or other
confining structures.
structures

Photo ref:
http://geosurvey.state.co.us/pubs/geohazards/docs/swelling.asp

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1. To increase strength 1. To increase strength

‹ Increase in undrained shear strength (cu) of
‹ Increase in friction angle (φ′) of granular soil cohesive soil

Granular soil τ Cohesive soil

τ ⎛τ ⎞
φ ' = tan − 1⎜⎜ f ⎟⎟ [1] cu2 (σ 1 − σ 3 ) f
φ′2 cu =
⎝ σn ⎠
[2]
2
cu1
φ′1
φ
σ σ

☺ Bearing capacity of granular soil that depends on the ☺ Bearing capacity of cohesive soil that depends on the
friction angle will increase. undrained shear strength will increase.
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2. To reduce compressiblity To reduce compressiblity

‹ Increase in compression index (Cc, mv) of ‹ Decrease in compressibility (C) of granular soil
cohesive soil
Coef of Compressibility
Cc before Compressio n index
Before 1 Δe
improvement Δe Δe

void ratio, e
improvement mv = [3b]
void ratio, e

Cr Cc = [3a] 1 + eo Δp
Δ(log p) Δp After
1 improvement
Cc Compressib ility of sand
Cr & Cc after Coef of Compressib ility
improvement 1 Δe 3 qc
mv = [3b] C= [3c*]
1 + eo Δp 2 '
σ vo
Pressure p
Pressure p (log)

☺ Settlement of cohesive soil that depends on the ☺ Settlement of granular soil that depends on the
compressibility will decrease with lower Cc or mv. compressibility will decrease with 1/C or mv.
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4. Improve volume stability

3. To control permeability & seepage
‹ Decrease void ratio (e) of granular soil
‹ Reduce volume instability of expansive soil
‹ Increase dry density ( ρd) of cohesive soil
using admixtures – cement, lime etc.

Permeabili ty (sand)
Permeability

3 Ref: http://www.otecohio.org
e
k = C1 [4]
2
1+ e

Void ratio, e [log]

☺ The new material produced has a higher strength, lower
permeability & compressibility than the native ground, but total unit
weight may be less.
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1. Mechanical modification

III. Various Methods of Soil a. Shallow surface compaction

Note: Shallow surface compaction is conducted using
Note:
I
Improvementt various equipment, e.g., smooth wheel roller, vibratory
roller, pneumatic tired roller, impact roller, grid roller,
tamper..
tamper
The compaction of soil covers either granular or
cohesive soils, especially near the ground surface, i.e.,
‹Mechanical modification 1 – 2 m. The process of compaction needs certain
‹Chemical modification placement water content to achieve suitable relative
compaction or field dry density
density.. Admixture (lime or
‹ Hydraulic modification cement) sometimes is used to stabilise either granular
‹ Modification by inclusions or cohesive soils.
soils.

Photo reference: http://www.hku.edu.hk

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Mechanical modification (cont.) Mechanical modification (cont.)

‹ b. Dynamic compaction c. Vibrocompaction
‹ Deep densification mainly for granular soil Deep densification mainly for granular soil
Note:
N t Dynamic
D i compaction
ti (DC) is
i shown
h i the
in th Note: Vibrocompaction is a process of
photograph. Basically, DC uses a heavy weight that is densification granular material using
Compaction point various equipment, e.g., vibroflot,
dropped from a certain height so that potential energy vibrorod or compozer (sand
of the weight (pounder) can be utilised to densify compaction pile).
mainly granular soil. The vibroflot is inserted into the ground,
S sometimes using water jet, to a
DC gives a relatively rapid and low-cost soil desired depth. The effect of vibration
improvement although the effect of vibration to produces liquefaction in the saturated
surrounding
di structures
t t should
h ld be
b considered.
id d surrounding sand and, and in turn,
turn it
S causes rearrangement of sand
DC has been used in Changi reclamation project to particles into a denser structure.
densify sand fill. Plan view Backfill material is sometimes necessary
to produce a smaller final void ratio of
the ground.
Photo reference: http://www.issfme.org
Photo reference: http://www.vibroflotation.com
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Mechanical modification (cont.)

2. Chemical modification
d. Stone & sand columns
Mainly used to strengthen cohesive soil by creating composite ‹ Lime & cement columns
ground, and also for slope stabilisation Deep modification of cohesive soil using admixtures:
lime, cement etc.
lime etc mixed with local soil
Centre of rotation
q

Slope & embankment Depth, Width, B

Pz z Hcol
z
Length,
g ,L
Cross sectional view
Side view
Stone τs
columns

Note: Jetted hole filled with dense gravel & sand, Soft clays & alluvial deposits,
Depth of improvement < 20 m 19 20

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3. Hydraulic modification Hydraulic modification (cont.)

Preloading without vertical drains Preloading with vertical drains
Deep improvement for soft cohesive layers or loose sand Deep improvement for soft cohesive layers by accelerating
consolidation process
y forcing
by g settlement to occur p
prior to actual structures Extra surcharge
Surcharge
Settlement
Embankment

Water Cohesive
Settlement soil
flow
Cohesive soil or loose
sand
Vertical drains

Note: Preloading combined with vertical drains are used to accelerate consolidation process
especially for very soft cohesive soil. Vertical drains can be made of sand or prefabricated
drains. The vertical drains mainly functions to shorten length of drainage path so that time
required for consolidation can be reduced significantly.
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4. Modification by inclusions
‹ Reinforced soil wall
In-situ reinforcement is mainly used as a retaining structure
or slope stabilisation
R i f
Reinforcement t

Facing Original soil

behind the
reinforced
soil wall

Compacted
backfill
http://www.geoace.com/cht/images/products/application_taiwan09_s.jpg 23

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