Day 3
GROUND IMPROVEMENT
METHODS OF COMPACTION
Surface and Deep Compaction Methods
•Conventional surface-type compactors, both the static and the vibrating types, exerts a
compacting effect to only a relatively shallow depth, generally less than 2 m.
•For greater depths other procedures are sometimes used.
•Next described methods of deep compaction.
1. Vibroflotation.
VIBROFLOTATION - A compaction technique
employed mostly for cohesionless soils.
i) The essence of the equipment is the
vibroflot probe. It consists of a cylindrical
tubular section that houses eccentrically
rotating weights that induce horizontal
vibratory motion.
ii) While vibrating and water jetting as shown
in figure, the probe is lowered down under its
own weight to the required penetration depth.
iii) Suitable granular material is shoveled in to
the hole and compacted by vibrating the probe
at each incremental position for a certain time.
iv) The final result is a column of granular
material as shown in (d)
v) Simultaneously, the adjoining soil formation
is likewise denser that originally.
Vibroflotion is most effective for loose sands,
particularly those below the water table.
The range of suitable sizes for vibroflotation
1. The range of suitable size for
most effective composition falls
within zone B,
2. With zones A and C less
desirable
3. Zone C appears appreciably
more difficult to compact.
4. Zone A, the zone containing
coarse material such as gravels,
may pose installation obstacles
if the penetration rate is too
low.
The grain-size distribution of the backfill Example:
material is an important factor that controls Following are the details for the backfill
the rate of densification. Backfills are rated material in a vibroflotation project
from excellent to undesirable
D10=0.36 mm
D20= 0.52 mm
D50=1.42 mm
Determine the suitability number SN and rate
the backfill material.
Solution:
Range of SN Rating of Backfill
0-10 Excellent
10-20 Good
20-30 Fair
30-50 Poor
= 6.1
>50 Unsuitable
Rating= Excellent
2. Terra Probe 4. Blasting
Similar to vibro-float, however
a. The extraction rate for the terra probe •Used for the densification of granular soils
is higher than that for the vibro-float, •Same soil grain size distribution as in
and vibroflotation.
b. More probes may be needed for the •The process involves:
Terra Probe than for vibro-floatation to •Detonation of explosive charges such as 60%
achieve equivalent results. dynamite at a certain depth below the ground
surface in saturated soil.
•The lateral spacing of the charges varies from
3 to 10 m( 10-30 feet). Three to five successful
3. Dynamic Compaction (Pounding) detonations are usually necessary to achieve
the desired compaction.
a. Consists of dropping a heavy weight from •Compaction up to a relative density of about
designated height repeatedly on the 80% and up to a depth of about 20 m (60 ft)
ground at regular intervals to achieve over a large area can easily be achieved by
densification of loose cohesionless soils or using this process.
fills. •The explosive charges are placed at a depth of
b. In some case the weight ranged 80 to 360 about 2/3 rds of the thickness of the soil layer
kN (18 to 80 kip) or 9 to 40 tons and the desired to be compacted.
dropping height varies between 7.5 and
30.5 m ( 2.5 and 100 ft.).
5. Dewatering [Link] Stabilization
It is a method of improving soil properties by Various chemicals added to a soil may yield one or
reducing the water content and the pore-water more following changes in soil formation:
pressure.
I. Reduce k (in dam construction, excavation
1. Vertical sand or gravel drains are commonly infiltration).
used to dewater and thereby II. Increase soil strength
III. Increase bearing capacity
i) increase the consolidation and settlement IV. Produce a stiffening of loose sand, thus
of soft, saturated and compressible soils minimize undesirable effect.
under embankments, or V. Increase stability of slopes
ii) ii) for stabilizing liquefiable soil deposit.
Methods includes
2. Horizontal drains are common means of
dewatering and subsequently stabilizing natural I. Mechanical mixing – mixing soil with cement,
slopes against seepage and erosion. bitumen, lime, bentonite or some other
chemicals, additives –cement grout, sodium
3. Ditches along highways may serve the purpose silicate calcium chloride solution.
of not only channeling the surface runoff from
the road, but also dewatering the base and sub- II. Grouting – process of injecting a stabilizing
base of the road. substance in to soil stratum under pressure.
Substance includes – Portland cement, a
4. Well points are sometimes used to dewater a cement-sand mixture , a bentonite, solution
soil formation to greater depths. of sodium silicate.
However the method should be evaluated with
respect to its effect on adjacent structures, i.e.,
settlement.
7. Geosynthetics:
Man –made sheet or net-like products derived
from plastic or fiberglass compounds.
Geotextles, geogrids, geonets, and
geomembrane are all Geosynthetics
These products are used for soil improvement.
8. Precompression
Precompressions are used to minimize post
construction settlement of consolidating layer
for
I. large building,
II. highway embankments, or
III. earth dams.