SOIL MECHANICS - I

Soil Improvement

Muhammad Usman Arshid

Department of Civil Engineering
University of Engineering & Technology Taxila

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•STABILIZATION:
Stabilization is the process of blending
and mixing materials with a soil to improve certain
properties of the soil. The process may include the
blending of soils to achieve a desired gradation or the
mixing of commercially available additives that may alter
the gradation, texture or plasticity, or act as a binder for
cementation of the soil.
 SOIL STABILIZATION
The soil stabilization means the improvement of stability or bearing power of the soil
by the use of controlled compaction, proportioning and/or the addition of suitable
admixture or stabilizers.

Basic Principles of Soil Stabilization….

• Evaluating the properties of given soil
• Deciding the lacking property of soil and choose
effective and economical method of soil stabilization
• Designing the Stabilized soil mix for intended stability
and durability values
 Soil Stabilization
1. Increases shear strength

2. Reduces permeability, and

3. Reduces compressibility
Need for Soil Stabilization
 Effective utilization of locally available soils
and other suitable stabilizing agents.

 Encouraging the use of Industrial Wastages

in building low cost construction of roads.
SOIL STABILIZATION TECHNIQUES
 Surface Stabilization
 Ground Improvement
 Grouting
 Micro piles
 Reinforcement
 Admixtures
Surface Stabilization
 The improvement process under the
situation when soil is used as a construction
material, the influenced zone is limited to
about a depth of 1meter or less than 1 meter
is called surface stabilization.
Surface Stabilization Methods
 Mechanical stabilization
 Chemical stabilization
 Physical stabilization
 Physio- chemical stabilization
•MECHANICAL STABILIZATION:
Mechanical stabilization is accomplished by mixing or
blending soils of two or more gradations to obtain a material
meeting the required specification. The soil blending may
take place at the construction site, a central plant, or a
borrow area. The blended material is then spread and
compacted to required densities by conventional means.
MECHANICAL COMPACTION
 Lest expensive, Applicable to both cohesive and cohesion
less soils.
 For sandy silt clay mixture, the soil is removed and refilled
in layers and compacted. For weak soil such as soft clays
and silt etc, good quality of soil may be transported.
 The control of field compaction is very important in order to
obtain the desired soil properties. Compaction of a soil is
measured in terms of the dry unit weight of the soil
Ground Improvement
 The improvement process when the soil is
used as a supporting material, extending to a
depth of at least 2 to 1.5 times the width of
footing is called ground improvement.
Ground Improvement Methods
 Removal and replacement
 Preloading
 Deep compaction
 Injection & Grouting
 Micro piles
 Drainage Methods
Removal and Replacement
 One of the oldest and simplest methods
is to simply remove and replace the soil
 Soil that will have to b replaced include
contaminated soils or organic soils
 Method is usually practical only above
the ground water table
 Preloading
 Simply place a surcharge fill on top of a soil
that requires consolidation.
 Once sufficient consolidation has taken place,
the fill can be remove and construction takes
place.
 The process can be accelerated by applying
surcharge fills, vertical drains by lowering the
ground water table.
 Most effective in clay soil.
 Advantages of Preloading

 Post construction settlement is reduced

 The method is free of noise and vibrations
 Any grading contractor can perform the work
 Reduces the danger of liquefaction by
earthquake in sands
Disadvantages of Preloading

 Surcharge fill must extend horizontally at least 10

m beyond the perimeter of the planned
construction, which may not be possible at
confined sites
 Transport of large quantities of soil required
 Surcharge must remain in place for months or
years, thus delaying construction
 Deep Compaction
 Dynamic compaction
 Vibro- compaction
Blasting
Vibrating probe
 Vibro- displacement compaction
Compaction piles
Vibroflotation
Dynamic compaction
 Vibro- Compaction
Blasting
 This method consist of explosion of
certain amount of explosive charge at a
certain depth of soil required to b
compacted.
 Charge spacing should be 3 to 8 m
 Centre to centre charge spacing should
be located at a depth of two third the
thickness of layer to be densified.
Vibrating Probe or Terra Probe
 It is a process used to densify the loose
sands.
 It is effectively used at offshore sites.
Vibro- Replacement
Vibro-Replacement
Compaction Piles
 In this method volume displacement
piles are used for the compaction of
sandy soil (highly permeable and
partially saturated)
 The effect of this process is twofold
 Economical for smaller sites of
moderate depths up to 15 meters.
Stone Columns
Vibro- Replacement Stone
Column
 Vibrofloatation
 Probe includes the vibrator mechanism and
water jets
 Probe is lowered into the ground using a crane
 Vibratory eccentric force induces densification
and water jets assist in insertion and extraction
 Vibratory probe compaction is effective if silt
content is less than 12-15% and clay is less
than 3%
 Probes inserted in grid pattern at a spacing of
1.5 to 3 meter
 Vibroflotation
Ground Type Relative Effectiveness
Sands Excellent
Silty Sands Marginal to Good
Silts Poor
Clays Not applicable
Mine Soils Good (if granular)
Dumped Fill Depends upon nature of fill
Garbage Not Applicable
 GROUTING
 Defined as the injection of a special liquid or slurry
material in the form of suspension or solution called
grout into the ground for the purpose of improving the
soil or rock.

Types of grouts
 Soil grout
 Cement grout
 Fly ash grout
 Bentonite grout
 Bitumen grout
 Lime grout
 GROUTING
 Grouting is a process whereby fluid like materials, either in
suspension, or solution form, are injected into the
subsurface soil or rock. The purpose of injecting a grout
may be any one or more of the following:
 1. To decrease permeability.
 2. To increase shear strength.
 3. To decrease compressibility.

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 Methods of Grouting
Permeation Grouting
-Injection of low viscosity thin grout into the soil.
-Once the soil cures, becomes a solid mass.
-Done using chemical grouts.
-Used for ground water barrier and preparing ground
before tunneling.
-Grout pipes are installed in a grid pattern at spacing
of 4 to 8 ft.
-Grout may b injected by using stage grouting
process and tube-a- manchette process.
 Methods of Grouting
Intrusion Grouting
-Fluid grout is injected under pressure to cause
controlled fracturing of soil.
-Used to prepare abutments and foundation for dams.
-Usually done using cementitious grout .
-Primary benefit is reduction in hydraulic conductivity.
 Micropile Definition
 A micropile is a small diameter (typically
less than 300 mm (12 in.)), drilled and
grouted non- displacement pile that is
typically reinforced.
 A micropile is constructed by drilling a
borehole, placing steel reinforcement, and
grouting the hole.
 Micropile can withstand relatively
significant axial loads and moderate lateral
loads.
 Micropile Definition
 Micropiles are installed by methods that
cause minimal disturbance to adjacent
structures, soil and the environment.
 They can be installed where access is
restrictive and in all soil types and
ground conditions.
Micropile Construction
Sequence Using Casing
 Reinforcement
 Soil is stronger in compression than in tension.
 To improve strength in tension geosynthetics
are placed in soil for soil reinforcement.
Soil Improvement
Reinforcement Earth Wall
Construction
WASTE MATERIALS AS SOIL STABLIZER

 Sources of Industrial wastes

 Thermal Power Stations

* Fly ash
* Bottom ash
* Pond ash
 Steel Plants
* Blast furnace slag
* Granulated blast furnace slag
* Steel Slag
Necessity
 Scarcity of good quality aggregates / soil for
road construction

 Production and accumulation of different waste

materials

 Disposal and environmental problem

 Economical and gainful utilization

General Criteria for Use of Waste Materials

 Amount of yearly produced waste material

should reach a certain lower limit
 The hauling distance should be acceptable
 The material should not have a poisonous
effect
 The material should be insoluble in water
 The utilization should not have a pollution
effect to the environment
Special Requirement for Using Waste Materials

 Free from organic matter

 Should not swell or decay as
influenced by water
 Should not be soluble in water
 Particles should be moderately
porous
Limitations of Using Waste Materials
 Quality of waste is not controlled by their
manufacturers
 Characteristics of by-products vary in a wide range
 Road construction practice is accustomed to
traditional materials of steady quality
 Specifications of layers compaction of traditional
materials are not suitable for waste materials