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By Filippo Maria Leoni, Wesley Schmutzler, Matteo Bertoni

"Deep Mixing Method (DMM) for the Rio Puerto Nuevo Project (Project) in San Juan was chosen by the Corps of Engineers to improve the soils adjacent to a 92 inch ID forced sewer main relocation and to improve the soils for the base of a new drainage channel. The soils to be improved consisted of sandy fill, soft clays, organics and stiff, plastic clays. A pre-construction soil investigation campaign, followed by a Bench Scale Mixing Programme and a Full Scale Field Test were performed during the pre-construction stage to assess soil properties, select binder type and dosage, and disclose the most suitable combination of injection parameters to improve the different soil layers. Production started at the end of August 2012 and was completed in October 2013; over 3,000 DMM elements were installed to a maximum depth of 57 ft below ground for a total gross volume of approximately 125,000 cubic yard. Each element consisted of two 5.5 ft diameter overlapping columns installed simultaneously, and their layout was such to meet the 100% Area Replacement Ratio required by the design. The ground improvement was successfully completed despite some difficulties due to a considerable amount of obstructions. Wet grab sampling and UCS testing of the retrieved specimens were designed as the main QC/QA method for the verification of the quality of the ground improvement. Upon completion of production, approximately 3,000 specimens were cast. The contract also required continuous coring of at least 12 randomly selected DMM elements and the testing of 8 cored specimens per bore for strength assessment. This paper will illustrate means and methods used in the field to construct the designed ground improvement and the results of the QC/QA program, with a focus on the differences between wet grab and coring sampling methods.INTRODUCTIONThe Rio Puerto Nuevo project involved the stabilization of a major drainage channel using the Deep Mixing Method (DMM), and the relocation of a 92 inch ID forced main sanitary sewer outfall. Previously, in 2004, a 40 x 16 x 2,000 ft. box culvert was installed under a different contract to convey runoff waters to the ocean.However, the connection between this culvert and the upstream network of channels was not constructed due to the presence of the forced main sewer pipe. In order for the drainage system to be completed and function properly, the 92 inch ID forced main needed to be lowered about 20 ft to allow for proper drainage.DMM was chosen by the US Army Corps of Engineers to stabilize the drainage channel as well as improve the soil under the relocated sewer main. The DMM was arranged in different zones (A through E) with variable top and bottom design elevations as can be seen in the typical cross section for Zone A (deeper and with a higher strength requirement) and Zone B as an example (Figure 1)."

Jan 1, 2015

By Adam Gerondale, David Hemstreet, Lisheng Shao, Kenji Yamasaki

"Foundation soils of a proposed single-span bridge over a busy railroad in Anchorage, Alaska included a layer of sensitive, non-plastic to low-plasticity silt. Slope stability analyses showed that, without ground improvement, the proposed abutments would not be stable immediately following the design earthquake due to the liquefaction of the sensitive silt. Wet soil mixing was selected to mitigate the liquefiable soils and assure abutment stability because: (i) it is a non-vibratory method and can be used for areas adjacent to the railroad tracks and underground utilities, as well as in areas not sensitive to vibration; and (ii) preand post-ground improvement testing, such as SPT or CPT, is not required. Eliminating the liquefaction hazard at the site also allowed for the abutments to be economically supported on shallow spread footings. A total of 511 soil-cement columns were constructed at the two abutments, each with a diameter of 8 feet (2.4 m) and an average length of 20 feet (6.1 m), extending from about 30 to 10 feet (9.1 to 3.0 m) below finished ground elevation. The columns were laid out in a shear wall pattern (in the longitudinal direction of the bridge) to increase stability under the loading by approach embankments.INTRODUCTIONAlaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (Alaska DOT&PF) is currently constructing West Dowling Road Overcrossing in Anchorage Alaska. It will be a single-span, steel box girder bridge approximately 200 feet (61 m) long and 100 feet (30 m) wide. It will have approach embankments, about 40 feet (12 m) high, on both sides. It will carry the new extension of West Dowling Road over double tracks of Alaska Railroad and Arctic Blvd. Foundation soils of the abutments consist of surficial fill and peat layer underlain by soft silt which is likely to liquefy and lose strength under shaking by a design earthquake. Both deep and shallow foundations were considered to support the bridge abutments. The design team pursued the option of improving the foundation soils and using shallow footings. Several ground improvement methods were evaluated, out of which wet soil mixing was selected as the best option.In situ wet soil mixing (hereinafter simply soil mixing) is mechanical mixing of soil in its location with cement slurry and produces soil-cement (soilcrete) columns that are stronger, less permeable, and less compressible than the original soil. Soil mixing is used for various applications including reinforcement of soft soils, excavation support, liquefaction mitigation, cutoff walls, etc. This paper presents a case history of soil mixing successfully used to improve foundation soils of bridge abutments to allow the use of spread footings."

Jan 1, 2015

By Charles M. Wilk

"Mass stabilization (MS) is a ground improvement technique that can prepare areas of low bearing strength soil for subsequent infrastructure development. The technique involves mixing binding agents such as portland cement, fly ash, slag, or lime into the subject soil while the soil remains in-place (insitu). The binders “cement” the soil grains together to form a cement modified soil or a soil cement. The MS-treated area now has improved bearing capacity to support infrastructure or to prevent movement of the material such as landslides.The same insitu soil mixing technique can be used to address contaminated areas. Binders or reagents are mixed into soil. The treatment protects human health and the environment by immobilizing hazardous constituents within the treated material. When used for the purpose of environmental remediation the technology is called Insitu Solidification/Stabilization (ISS).Both Mass Stabilization and ISS treatments require laboratory studies to develop a mix design of soil and binder(s) that produce the desired physical and/or chemical properties. The mix design is then transferred into the field. Successful MS and ISS treatments rely on reproduction at full-scale of the mix design and the thorough mixing attained at laboratory scale. Fifty to 70% of the cost of a MS or ISS project is in the cost of the binding agent that is to be mixed into the subject soil. Under-dosing, overdosing, non-thorough mixing, and mixing in the wrong areas all create cost over-runs.This paper will discuss recent innovations in mass stabilization systems that improve the cost effectiveness of the treatment technology. Specialized equipment can impart greater mixing shear thus improving the thoroughness of mixing. Dry powder pressure feeders can conserve the “drying capacity” of binder resulting in higher strengths at lower binder dosages. Global Positioning System (GPS)-based systems can guide the mixing operator for complete mixing coverage. An integrated tracking and feeding system can record that proper dosing and mixing was accomplished and generate construction QA/QC reports for the client.INTRODUCTIONNew or expanding infrastructure projects may encounter areas of low bearing capacity soil or areas where marginal materials such as waste, dredged material, or sediment have been placed. Mass stabilization is a geotechnical method that can be used to improve the bearing capacity or stiffness of soil. Mass stabilization involves mixing binding agents into soil subject to treatment while the soil remains in-place or insitu.Mass stabilization technique can also address contaminated soil therefore, the same technique can be used to attain both civil and environmental engineering goals. In this environmental application the technology is known as insitu solidification/stabilization (ISS). ISS protects human health and the environment by immobilizing hazardous constituents within the treated material."

Jan 1, 2015

"1.0 INTRODUCTIONThese Guidelines reflect the state-of-the-practice of the Deep Mixing Method (DMM) in North America. DMM is an in situ mixing process that breaks down the soil structure; injects binders, fillers and reagents into the soil; and blends them with the soil. DMM is also commonly referred to as Soil Mixing. The final properties of the treated soil in situ are a function of the composition of the native soils and groundwater, the binders introduced, the mixing methods and energy, and the conditions and time of curing. Treated soils generally have increased strength and stiffness and/or reduced permeability relative to the native soils.This document addresses DMM performed by rotating single and multiple axis mixing tools, rotating cutter wheels at the end of a rigid kelly bar, or trench mixing using a rotating cutting/mixing chain around the perimeter of a rigid bar. Binder may be injected through low or high energy (velocity) jets.The treated soils created through wet DMM are heterogeneous mixtures of binder, water, soil, and groundwater. Treated soils produced by dry DMM techniques are a mixture of binder, soil, and the water already present in the native soil.DMM applications described in this document include•,Earth retention•,Liquefaction mitigation•,Groundwater seepage control and containment isolation•,Bearing capacity improvement•,Deep foundations•,Mass stabilization and contamination containment•,Embankment, levee and dam strengthening, and stabilization•,Casing replacementThis document was developed to address deep foundations applications. Use of deep mixing for seepage control is not specifically addressed. The reader is referred to documents prepared by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for additional information. Shallow soil mixing and the use of DMM for stabilization/solidification of contaminated soils performed at depths less than 10 feet (3 m) are mentioned briefly. Jet grouting is not covered by these guidelines."

Jan 1, 2016

By Danny Winters, Wesley Schmutzler, Christopher Lewis, Matteo Bertoni

"SR 83/US 331 is a primary North/South roadway in Walton County that is a crucial link for tourism and commerce between the Walton County beaches and the heavily traveled I-10 corridor in the panhandle of Florida. The facility also serves as the primary hurricane evacuation route from southern Walton County. This 3.4 mile project involves expanding the current two-lane crossing of Choctawhatchee Bay to a fourlane facility to increase capacity and dramatically improve mobility within the corridor. One of the major goals of the project is to perform ground stabilization using Deep and Shallow Soil Mixing (DMM & SMM) along existing causeways. Ground stabilization is required due to the existence of moderately deep very loose soils that have settled considerably over the years. As a result, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) incurred significant maintenance expenses and was unable to maintain an acceptable ride quality. FDOT considered soil mixing as one option to control this settlement. Quality Control for soil mixing relies heavily on the monitoring system used to control mixing parameters. This paper will examine in detail, the reporting of the Drilling Mate System (DMS) used to ensure the quality of each soil mixed element.INTRODUCTIONThe Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) issued a Design-Build Maximum Price Request for Proposal (RFP) for the Choctawhatchee Bay Bridge expansion. The design-build (D/B) team of Skanska/Parsons Brinckerhoff was awarded the contract. The D/B team, in order to meet the unique deep ground improvement challenges of the Choctawhatchee Bay Bridge Project, selected Foundation & Geotechnical Engineering (FGE) as the engineer to design the ground improvement and TREVIICOS South (TIS) to execute the works.The FDOT in their RFP states that “either bridge or utilize a deep ground improvement method to stabilize the three segments of the existing earthen causeway” and “one possible method of deep ground improvement which is considered viable is deep soil mixing”. FGE developed a proposal to provide a unique rigid transfer platform to effectively stabilize the existing causeways. This platform (Fig. 1) consists of an upper 10 ft thick stabilized soil layer which transfers axial load to a series of deep columns. This robust system guarantees superior durability, ride quality and pavement condition and will exceed all required design and performance criteria including, “Less than 2 inches of settlement within a 1,000-foot section”."

Jan 1, 2017

By Thang V. Nguyen, Lisheng Shao, Gary E. Taylor

"The Community Memorial Hospital of Ventura, California, proposed to build a new state-of-the-art Cancer Treatment Center with radiation shielding walls and roof. The loose silty soils at the site had the potential to liquefy during an earthquake, which would result in significant settlement under the heavy footing loads. Treatment options included various deep foundation alternatives, as well as several ground improvement methods. The choice of wet soil mixing minimized the disturbance to the adjacent hospital during construction and potential settlement. Wet soil mixing allowed the structure to be supported on a raft foundation, meeting the stringent building total and differential settlement criteria. The authors also performed unit cell 3-D finite element analyses to evaluate the behavior of the wet soil mixing system in seismic loading conditions. This paper highlights the ground improvement design, construction, QA/QC, and the research related to evaluating the effectiveness of soil mixing for liquefaction mitigation.INTRODUCTIONThe Ventura Community Memorial Hospital proposed the construction of a new Cancer Treatment Center to replace the existing structure, which was built in 1901. The hospital complex is located in a wellestablished residential neighborhood. The soil conditions at the site of the proposed structure required ground modification to support the very heavy radiation treatment section of the building and limit settlement. Originally, 90-foot-long precast piles were considered for foundation support. Based on supplemental Cone Penetration Tests (CPTs) performed, the deepest CPT did not encounter competent pile bearing strata at a depth exceeding 30.5 m (100 ft). This could result in failure of the piles under long-term conditions, especially if hydro-consolidation occurs. The more realistic pile penetration depth would have been 36.6 to 45.7 m (120 to 150 ft). In addition, the excessive noise in association with pile driving would have been unacceptable to the community, patients, and staff of the hospital, so an alternative ground improvement solution was required.The specialty geotechnical contractor recommended wet soil mixing, an economical solution of creating a soil-cement product known as soilcrete that would significantly reduce the construction related noise and provide a more complete deep foundation for the structure.SOIL CONDITIONS AND SETTLEMENT CONCERNSThe subsurface soils were interbedded (Fig. 1) consisting of loose to medium dense silty sands, and soft to medium stiff silty clays to a depth of 30.5 m (100 ft). Groundwater was encountered at depths of 9.1 m (30 ft) and historical high groundwater was at 8.5 m (28 ft) below the ground surface."

Jan 1, 2015

By Jim Cook

Arsenal Football Club required the development of a new home stadium in north London, subsequently named the Emirates Stadium. The proposed development comprised a 60,000 seat stadium, with associated facilities and a sports training centre. Described are the foundation solutions and piling construction techniques used, which take into consideration the potential impacts on existing above and below ground railway infrastructure and underground water structures. Methods used by the piling contractor to improve aspects associated with health, safety and quality are also described.

Jan 1, 2008

By Tomohiro Yamasaki

"At the pre-construction foundations of the controlled waste disposal site built at the Port of Kinuura, the clayey soil account for the most, and with lesser amounts of sand compaction piles and sand mat. The cement deep mixing method (CDM) was used to improve ground impermeability and to reinforce the foundations on the seawall. Laboratory mixing and testing was performed to determine the appropriate quantities of cement additive for clayey soil, SCP sand, and sand mat. The test results indicated that maintaining the design strength of qu = 1,550 kN/m2 would require C = 100 kg/m3 of cement additive for all three soil types (clayey soil, SCP sand, sand mat). The permeability performance needed to improve ground impermeability assumes a permeability coefficient of K = 1.0×10-6cm/s. And the clayey soil satisfied the performance requirements at C = 100 kg/m3. However, to improve grand impermeability of the SCP sand and sand mat required more than 5% of particles having diameters of less than 75 µm. Thus, in the latter two cases, the required cement adding quantity was C = 250 kg/m3. The test specimens at one to two weeks after the created with a permeability coefficient of K = 10-6cm/s became permeability coefficient of K = 10-7cm/s six week later due to the effects of cement solidification. So the permeability coefficient declined about one order. The permeability coefficient three months later tends to decline continued with a somewhat lower.INTRODUCTIONBetween 2008 and 2011, the Aichi Seaside Environment Center constructed the Kinuura No. 3 offshore controlled waste final disposal site at Taketoyo in Aichi prefecture. (see Figure 1). The disposal site offers a landfill capacity of 5.21 million m3 and measures 472,000 m2 in area, of which some 344,000 m2 is a managed controlled sector enclosed within an impermeable seawall."

Jan 1, 2015

By Chu E. Ho

This paper reviews the design of jet grouting at re-entrant corners of excavations where the diaphragm wall and secant pile wall installation were interrupted by existing utilities in the streel sidewalk. Jet grout blocks were formed to seal the gaps in the walls for excavation support, consisting of four to six columns in clusters. Jet grouting was performed around an electrical duct bank which had to be maintained. Jet grouting was executed through stratified soils using various combinations of jetting parameters for different soil strata. The installation sequence and age of the neighboring columns within a cluster will affect the jet’s ability to form subsequent columns. When jet cutting is limited next to hardened grout columns or embedded obstructions (such as diaphragm walls or secant pile walls in this case), the specific gravity (SG) of spoils would be reduced and tend toward the value of the injected grout SG. The magnitude of spoil SG is also influenced by the variability of the grout mix supplied. Specific Gravity Ratio (SGR) defined as the ratio of spoil SG to the actual grout SG at the time of jetting can be used as an indicator of successful treatment, with SGR > 1.0 indicating effective soil erosion. Verification coring and testing were implemented to confirm target column diameter and strength of grouted soils have been achieved.

May 1, 2022

By Robert Alperstein, Nidal AbiSaab, Joe Pastore

"This paper describes the design and construction aspects of the foundation support for a 57-story building currently under construction in lower Manhattan. The site is located near the East River with subsurface conditions consisting of about 40-ft [12.2-m] of unsuitable historic fill and soft plastic clay underlain by about 130-ft [39.6-m] of dense sand resting on bedrock. A mat foundation supported on unsuitable soils improved by jet grouting was selected for the project. Design concepts and selection of the engineering properties of the improved and natural foundation soils are discussed. The results of quality control testing and methods to verify design parameters during construction are presented.INTRODUCTIONNew York City (especially Manhattan) is known for its skyline of high rise structures. The geologic conditions in the New York Metropolitan Area influence the selection of foundations and feasibility of high rise construction as noted by Horvath (2013). These conditions include varying depth and quality of bedrock, multiple glacial events during the Pleistocene Epoch, and the effects of human modifications to the subsurface environment. Clusters of relatively taller buildings are generally located in Lower and Midtown Manhattan where sound crystalline bedrock is at relatively shallow depth beneath the ground surface and shallow foundations rest on the bedrock surface. In recent years the use of more costly high capacity driven piles or drilled caissons and deep basements has enabled the high skyline to spread to other areas."

Jan 1, 2016

By Steven E. Darnell, William W. Haasz, Brandon T. Buschmeier, Frederic Masse

"Landfills often cover expansive areas in locations where large building facilities or infrastructure is in high in demand after the land has been reclaimed. Most landfills have soil or fill properties that vary widely over small distances; combined with the strict guidelines and restrictions for the removal and treatment of soil or material that is on site, these projects can be a major challenge for any prospective developer. In order to make landfills suitable for the construction of any project it is necessary to conduct a detailed evaluation of the subsurface conditions. Ground improvement techniques are among the most typical methods for making reclaimed landfills suitable for the construction of any major project. The paper will discuss the approach that was taken to support a proposed warehouse in Elizabeth, New Jersey using Controlled Modulus Columns Rigid Inclusions (CMC Rigid Inclusions), which are grouted, auger-displacement elements. Additionally, we will discuss the use of Dynamic Compaction (DC) that was performed in areas outside the proposed warehouse footprint. Through the combination of CMC rigid inclusions and DC, the general contractor’s project schedule was expedited, the costs to support the warehouse were economized, and the anticipated settlement of the parking lot areas was drastically reduced. Furthermore, the paper will outline the benefits of using CMC rigid inclusions and DC methods in order to minimize the impact of working with contaminated soils from a landfill.OVERVIEW OF THE ELIZABETH WAREHOUSE PROJECTOver the past several decades the foundations industry has seen an increase in demand for the support of developments on reclaimed landfills; particularly, on the east coast where many landfills were capped before the 1980’s and steady population growth and city expansion have caused high demand for this now highly desired real estate. Unfortunately, these landfills, often as large as twenty (20) or more acres present tough geotechnical and environmental challenges for Owners planning to develop or build structures of any size on the reclaimed land. Consequently, the options for building on reclaimed landfills can quickly become cost prohibitive.Site SpecificSelected by a developer for the location of a future warehouse, the 29 acres (114,424 sq-meters) project site is located in Elizabeth, New Jersey and demonstrates the complexities of designing over a once reclaimed landfill. The landfill was used for municipal solid waste (MSW) consisting of trash, wood, metal, glass, plastic, brick, concrete fragments, and other types of debris. This landfill was capped in the 1960’s, and developed in the 1970’s for a warehouse. The new project included the demolition of the existing warehouse and the development of the site to be repurposed for a new 481,650 sq-ft single-story warehouse, surrounded by paved parking and truck loading areas. Figure 1 below, shows an overview of the project site layout."

Jan 1, 2017

By Federico Pagliacci, Marco Chiarabelli, Salvatore Miranda

The paper describes the adopted technologies and performance controls related to a special geotechnical engineering solution provided within the scope of the Galataport Project, in Istanbul, Turkey. The scheme is the one applied to the new quay of Salipazari, which is a combination of retaining structure and ground improvement, formed by a combi-wall, a reinforced concrete diaphragm wall and a soil improvement by deep soil mixing (Turbojet). The paper highlights the importance of employing cutting-edge technologies within the foundation engineering field and state-of-the-art electronic control devices, in parallel with the essential human expertise, in order to obtain the desired results in this high profile Project. The results of the in-situ and laboratory tests carried out on the improved soil are also presented. Main discussed points are: • History of Galataport and main Project details. • Design principle and soil condition for the new quay of Salipazari. • Difficulties encountered during execution of DSM. • Preliminary field trial tests conducted to establish the operational parameters, with relevant in-situ and laboratory tests executed. • Preliminary tests on material used for DSM (seawater and CEM IV SR). • Electronic equipment mounted on the rig, which allows the automatic execution of DSM columns. • Final QA/QC tests conducted to verify the performance of DSM, mainly consisting in: coring with relevant laboratory tests on samples (UCS + Es), seismic refraction tomography and seismic cross hole tomography. Correlations between UCS and Es, and between Es and Edyn are also presented. • A cross section of the executed treatment could be inspected on site during excavation. Photos and considerations are also presented.

Jan 1, 2018

By Shahriar Vahdani, Andy Herlache, Andrew Bro, Wei-Yu Chen

"The Presidio Parkway Project will reconstruct approximately 1.6 miles of highway, including seven bridges, three cut-and-cover tunnels, and an undercrossing connecting the Golden Gate Bridge to the City of San Francisco, California. The project site is approximately 5.6 miles from the San Andreas Fault, which is capable of producing magnitude 8 earthquakes. Seismic hazards include strong ground shaking, soil liquefaction, ground settlement, and lateral spreading. At the Tennessee Hollow bridge section up to 30 feet of loose sands and soft clays are present. Concerns are raised that standalone drilled piers will experience excessive lateral soil loads from liquefaction-induced lateral spreading pressure resulting in excessive pier head displacement of up to 8 inches. Ground improvement by Cement Deep Soil Mixing (CDSM) is proposed to provide additional foundation stiffness. This paper presents the methodology to: 1) assess the effectiveness of the ground improvement in resisting lateral spreading, and 2) optimize ground improvement design at individual bridge bents based on local site condition. A series of 3-D numerical analyses are conducted and the results show that drilled piers with CDSM ground improvement are capable of withstanding seismic demands from lateral spreading and the lateral pier head displacement is reduced to less than 2 inches. The adopted analytical approach is efficient at modifying design for individual bents and can be considered for future pier foundation design in seismically active areas. IntroductionThe Tennessee Hollow bridge section (Low Viaduct) is an integral component of the Presidio Parkway project which will replace the existing facility with a new multi-lane roadway between the Golden Gate Bridge and the City of San Francisco. As shown on Figure 1, the project site is located about 5.6 miles east of the San Andreas Fault and 12.5 miles west of the Hayward Fault. The Low Viaduct will span over a future wetland habitat subject to tidal fluctuations and potential scouring."

Jan 1, 2014

By Takeo Asanuma, Sachihiko Tokunaga, Hirofumi Taguchi, Yasuhiro Ootsuka, Yosuke Tanaka

The Cement Deep Mixing Method (CDM Method) is a ground improving method that has been used for mainly offshore sites to strengthen the soft ground below the sea bottom by injecting and adequately mixing cement slurry with soft soil into the ground to form a ground-improving column. In recent years, the CDM Method has increasingly been adopted for ground- improving work as part of liquefaction countermeasures and earthquake-resistant reinforcement in the shallow waters of river mouths and inland waters. In consequence of that, a pontoon-mounted CDM Method (CDM- FLOAT Method) has been developed for shallow waters, which is equipped with a land-type mixing machine combined with system management equipment and a tide level-based control function. This CDM-FLOAT Method can be deployed at work sites where the conventional offshore-use CDM barge cannot be employed. This report describes the CDM-FLOAT Method and the scope of applications together with construction work procedures, and a representative case of use of the CDM-FLOAT Method is introduced as an example of earthquake-resistant reinforcement of the existing embankment of a canal.

Jan 1, 2015

By Mark H. Balfe

Over the last decade, Fenway Park has undergone annual improvements to modernize the facility for players and fans. These renovations include the Monster Seats, the Right Field Roof expansion, a new pavilion behind home plate, expansion of the Red Sox clubhouse, additional roof seating, and concourse improvements. Retrofitting the historic ballpark to bring it up to current standards required installation of foundations to support the new structural loads for each of the alteration projects. This required evaluation of existing conditions, and in many cases augmentation of the foundations at existing columns to accommodate the structural changes to the park. New foundations, generally consisting of drilled-in micropiles, were installed in numerous configurations and conditions. Since 2003, a total of 215 drilled-in micropiles have been installed to augment various columns around the park. The micropiles range in capacity between 40 and 70 tons and are installed through Fill and Organic Soils and embedded into the dense Glaciofluvial Sand and Gravel layer. Issues and learning related to the foundation augmentation include schedule constraints (work is typically conducted during the off-season and schedule is very aggressive), encountering old/abandoned utilities or foundations, ventilation of equipment, and management of spoils during micropile installation.

Jan 1, 2011

By M. Krzaninski, Y. Zou, A. Frost

The foundation solution for a data centre building in Sydney, Australia comprised two alternatives, the first of which incorporated the use of CFA piles founded in rock at approx. 27m depth to support column working loadings of approx. 7.5MN, and the second utilising rapid impact compaction with a raft foundation of 1.0m thick concrete slab. Soil conditions comprised 1m of fill over 3 to 4m of sands varying from loose to dense consistency, underlain by very stiff clays overlying the rock. A creative solution incorporating Rapid Impact Compaction to improve the loose soils in conjunction with a piled raft solution was proposed. Piles proposed under the raft were Atlas Drilled Displacement piles which offered advantages of displacement pile performance and savings in time and material costs. The piled raft solution was developed in consultation with the consulting structural engineer, combining the skills of the piling contractor and consulting engineer to the benefit of the project. This paper describes the development and design aspects of the piled raft solution adopted for the project.

Nov 1, 2022

By H G. Poulos

"This paper sets out a simplified approach by which the practical foundation designer can undertake the relevant calculations to satisfy the requirements for deep foundation design in seismic areas. The following matters are dealt with:a. Design issues that should be addressed;b. Pile design for axial loading, including the possible effects of liquefaction;c. Pile design for lateral loading where liquefaction does not occur;d. Pile design for lateral loading where liquefaction does occur;e. Measures to mitigate against liquefaction effects.The paper is a modified version of a paper presented in 2013 to the 19th NZGS GeotechnicalSymposium, Queenstown, New Zealand.1. INTRODUCTIONConsideration of the effects of earthquakes and seismic loadings is an increasingly important aspect of modern foundation design, and most contemporary standards have a mandatory requirement for such consideration. For example, the Australian Piling Code, AS 2159-2009, states that “a pile shall be designed for adequate strength, stiffness and ductility under load combinations including earthquake design actions”. However, the methods by which such considerations can be undertaken are generally not set out in the standards, and many approaches have been utilized, ranging from very simplistic methods to extremely complex computer analyses. Accordingly, there appears to be scope for an approach that is soundly based but which is neither too simplistic nor too complex.Poulos (1989) has suggested that there are three categories of analysis and design, as follows:1. Category 1: empirical methods.2. Category 2: simplified but soundly-based methods.3. Category 3: more comprehensive methods that are soundly-based, and site-specific.The objective of this paper is to set out a systematic but simplified approach which falls into Category 2 above, and by which the foundation designer can undertake the relevant analyses to satisfy the foundation design requirements for seismic regions. Emphasis is placed on methods that do not require “black box” software or which employ complex soil models in which the physical meaning of the parameters is unclear."

Jan 1, 1900

By Minna Karstunen, Patrick Becker

"Abstract The deformation behaviour of a foundation on deep mixed columns in a natural soft soil is a three-dimensional problem, which has to be considered adequately in numerical modelling. However, simplifications are often made due to the computational costs of fully coupled 3D analyses by either modifying geometry of the problem or material parameters in 2D for plain strain analyses or by modelling the problem as 2D axisymmetric case. The volume averaging technique (VAT) is an enhanced 2D FE technique that enables mapping the 3D problem in two-dimensions, yet modelling the two constituents (column and soft soil) with appropriate different constitutive models within a homogenized material. The performance of the volume averaging technique is demonstrated by considering unit cell simulations of floating and end bearing columns in soft soil. The results with VAT are compared and validated against conventional 2D axisymmetric and fully coupled 3D finite element analyses.IntroductionThe properties of very soft clays, silts and organic soils can be improved by stabilizing agents, such as lime and/or cement that are mixed into the soil in situ by using auger-type mixing tools in situ. Deep mixed columns are extensively used to reduce deformations and to improve the overall stability of embankments and foundations on soft soils. Whilst the most typical applications are embankments, increasingly the method is used under foundations. The first category of applications is very common in Scandinavian countries, whilst the latter application has been pioneered in Poland, as an environmentally friendly (low CO2) and cost effective alternative for piling. Due to economic and environmental reasons there is an increasing interest in the technique elsewhere in Europe. With deep mixing, the strength and deformation properties of the soft soil can be improved, and the risk of unwanted deformations is substantially reduced.Numerical methods, such as finite element (FE) analysis, can be used as an alternative to conventional design methods. They are particularly suitable when considering serviceability limit state, i.e. deformation analyses under working loads. FE analyses allow using advanced constitutive models that take account of the complex stress-strain behaviour of natural soil and stabilized columns, respectively. The problems that involve a grid of circular columns under an embankment or a strip footing are fully three-dimensional problems. As 3D analyses are very laborious and expensive, an enhanced 2D technique using the so-called volume averaging technique (VAT) is utilised. The basic idea is to describe the column-improved ground as a homogenized composite material, and using clever mathematics to map the true 3D problem into 2D. Once the constitutive relations of both composites are defined, the response of the column-improved ground can be simulated in 2D subject to arbitrary loading and boundary conditions."

Jan 1, 2014

By Brandon M. Robinson, Osman F. Besler, Dominik Gaechter

The Sandbukta-Moss-Såstad (SMS) project is a part of the Intercity development project, which is part of the largest transport project in Norway, consisting of 270 km of new double-track rail. The SMS project consists of 10km of double-track railway including three open stretches and two tunnels. Soil conditions consist of quick clay underlain by Bedrock. Dry soil mixing (DSM) was considered as the main soil improvement method to allow for excavation of the quick clay and construction of the D-Wall panels. The preliminary design revealed around 25,000 ton of binder installation. Therefore, a test field has been conducted to evaluate binder alternatives in means of improved soil strength by considering CO2 emissions. Multicem and Standard cement (Standard FA) have been compared for that purpose. Multicem is a type of binder which mainly consists of Portland cement and cement kiln dust (CKD). CKD is a fined-grained, solid, highly alkaline material removed from the cement kiln exhaust gases. reverse column penetration test (FOPS) and pre-drilled column penetration test (FKPS), which are common tests to evaluate DSM strength have revealed comparable strength outcome for both binder types. Therefore, Multicem has been selected as the main binder type to be used further which provided a reduction in CO2 footprint of up to 40%.

May 1, 2022

By Mary Ellen Large

This publication of Deep Foundations Institute (DFI) is intended to provide project owners, design engineers and construction professionals with guidelines for selecting cutoff wall and barrier systems and a general introduction to their methods of construction. Three categories of cutoff wall and barrier construction technology (excavated cutoff systems, in situ techniques, and driven cutoff systems) are presented and parameters for evaluating their design and construction are discussed. The information presented was compiled from the opinions of practicing engineers and construction specialists from the DFI Slurry Wall Committee.

Jan 1, 2021