Two Years of Jet-Grouting in British Columbia

Case histories


Paolo Gazzarrini P Eng- Sea To Sky Geotech Inc. paolo@paologaz.com Ph. 604-913 1022 fax 604-
913 0106

Mat Kokan P Eng Geopacific Consultants Kokan@geopacific.ca Ph. 604-439 0922 fax 604-439
9189

Steven Jungaro- Matcon Excavation and Shoring -stephenj@matconexcshoring.com ph. 604- 520
5909 fax 604- 520 5957

ABSTRACT

Jet-Grouting is a well known soil improvement technique able to create in the subsoil consolidated elements with
different shapes and dimensions with good mechanical characteristics and reduced permeability. The technique
involves eroding the soil with cement grout jetted at high pressure (400 to 500 bars = 7,000 to 9,000 psi. Jet-
Grouting was introduced in British Columbia in October 2004, and since then several applications have been
carried out in the Lower Mainland.
This paper will present several Jet-Grouting applications, specifically for: Underpinning, Shaft, Cut Off Wall, Shoring
and Piling, in British Columbia.

For each application, in addition to the geometry of the treatment, soil conditions and parameters used, the
following data will be presented: UCS, Hydraulic conductivity and compression test evaluation, where applicable.
In addition to the jet-grouting applications, the paper will briefly analyze the use of computers during the drilling
phase to evaluate the soil characteristics. Torque, thrust, penetration rate and rotation are electronically monitored
and recorded for the evaluation of the specific energy and for the evaluation of the soil conditions.


1) INTRODUCTION

Since October 2004, the date of the first field test
carried out on Mitchell Island, several Jet-grouting
applications have been used in BC. Its use has solved
interesting problems both from a technical, schedule
and/or economical point of view.
The versatility of the system, that involves the definition
and optimization of several parameters, combined with
the vibration-free and noise-free operations, has kept
the system popular in BCs market, up to now.

This paper will describe the Jet-grouting works in which
the authors have been directly involved, in addition
with the analysis of the parameters used and results
obtained. Paragraph 2 will describe briefly the location,
geometry and soil condition of the jobs, and paragraph
3 will analyze the parameters and results.
A special chapter will be reserved for the drilling
parameters analysis.


2) APPLICATIONS, CASE HISTORIES ( in
chronological order of execution)

2.1) MITCHELL ISLAND PRELIMINARY FIELD TEST
(October 2004)

In September/October 2004 a preliminary test, was
carried out on Mitchell Island, in Richmond, B.C. The
test was intended to verify the technology in the local
soil conditions.

The test was divided into 2 stages. The initial stage
included the installation of 8 scattered columns with
varied jet grouting parameters to evaluate the most
efficient result in terms of diameter and cement
consumption. All the columns were excavated and
some of them where extracted from the soil, where
particularly good column characteristics where
achieved. (see Photo 1 and 2). UCS and permeability
tests were carried out on the best column.

The second phase was carried out using the optimized
parameters from phase 1 to create a semicircular wall
in order to simulate the behavior of cut-off wall and the
resulting impact on soil stability in cut. (See photo 3).

The subsurface soils at the Mitchell Island site are
typical over bank and fluvial deposits of the Fraser
River Delta, with a superficial stratum of sandy to low
plastic silt (approx 1.5m) over silty sand, with the
water table, depending on the tide excursions, around
3 meters from the working platform



Photo 1- Excavated Column



Photo 2



Photo 3

2.2) PARCEL 5- NORTH VANCOUVER (March- May
05)

This Jet-Grouting application has previously been the
subject of a paper presented in 2005 at the CGS
Symposium (Ref1), and will be not re-evaluated here.
Only the data will be analyzed in paragraph 3 in
comparison with the other results.

This application of double Jet-Grouting was for a
structural impervious temporary underpinning wall
below the existing CN Rail tunnel. The jet Grouting was
carried out in dense sand (Quadra Sand) with
presence of local artesian water.

2.3) SHAFT NORTH VANCOUVER (July 05)

The second application of Jet-Grouting in BC is related
to the temporary stabilization of a small diameter shaft
required for the construction of a 1,500 mm diameter
vertical manhole for a storm line at the intersection of
Esplanade and St. George Street in North Vancouver,
and on the center lane of Esplanade. The shaft was
9.0 meters deep.
A storm line was installed horizontally from the south
side of the same CN tunnel discussed in 2.2 above and
encountered significant construction difficulties due to
the presence of running sand in the Quadra
Formation. See Figure 1 with the section of the shaft
and the original design.

Figure 1- Original Design (Substitute the Figure)

The solution of soil improvement using jet-grouting was
chosen due to time constraints (keeping Esplanade
road closed for as short time as possible), miniminzing
risk of project delays and avoiding excavation in stages
as required for a conventional shoring solution (top
down shoring installation shotcrete with dewatering).
The designers were also encouraged by the success of
the previous job.
The Jet-Grouted shaft had a diameter of 3.7 meters.
And a depth of 11.4 meters as shown on Figures 3,
and 4. See Figure 2 with the proposed alternate.

A total of 23 Jet Grouted (double system) columns
were installed, 11.4 meters deep, around the circular

Figure 2

perimeter of the shaft to create lateral support, in
addition to 9 partially Jet-grouted columns (11.4 meters
deep but only 2 meters jetted in the bottom part) as an
impervious slab at the bottom to avoid heave. The
geometry and location of the columns was adapted on
site due to the high density of services present on the
road (Esplanade).
The soil conditions were the same as the previous job:
5 meters of dense glacial till and below dense sand
(with zones of artesian water).

The result was excellent, permitting a completely safe
access for personnel and permitting the installation of
the storm manhole. See photos 4 and 5.



Photo 4- Intersection Esplanade / St. George



Photo5- Excavation in total safety at the bottom of the
dry shaft.

2.4) INFINITY- SURREY (August- December 05)

The third application described in this paper is related
to the application of Jet-Grouting to a shoring job for
residential-commercial towers in Surrey, BC, at King
George Highway and 100 Ave. This was the first time
that Jet- Grouting was used for a conventional shoring
project in BC. Jet-Grouting was chosen both for
economical and technical reasons. Technically
because the soil in the superficial 6 to 8 meters was
comprised of weak fills, peat and soft silty clay. This
soil can be very problematic to support using
conventional shoring methods. Jet grouting was an
economical alternative to sheet piling and improved the
schedule. The conventional sequencing used for
shoring excavation, 2 meter stages, can be very
tedious and more time consuming in comparison with
the solution chosen of Jet-Grouting. See Figures 3
and 4 with the section and plan of the job.



Figure 3- Plan of the 1
st
Phase


Figure 4 - Section

A total of 345 Jet-Grouted columns were installed to a
depth of 15 meters, using the double system. A steel
H pile was installed at every second column to improve
stiffness and provide bending and shear capacity.

The soils characteristic of the site are from 0 to 6-8
meters (average) clay, from 6-8 m to the bottom of
excavation, sand till with some silt and gravel.
Considering that the soils present on site, clay and till,
have totally different characteristics, it was not possible
to use the same Jet-Grouting parameters for all of the
columns. Different parameters were used: higher
energy in till and lower energy in the silt to obtain the
required diameters. See paragraph 3 and table 1 for
the energy definition and evaluation, and paragraph 4
for the evaluation of the elevation in which the
parameters have been varied.
Photos 6 and 7, show the details of the Jet-Grouted
wall and a cored sample in Till.


Photo 6 Excavated Jet-Grouted, anchored wall




Photo 7 Jet-Grouted cored sample in Till.

2.5) QUANTUM DEVELOPMENT
NEW WESTMINSTER (January May 06)

The fourth case history of Jet-Grouting, here
described, is related to a piling structural application
for a residential tower in New Westminster, BC.
The foundations of the tower, as shown in Figure 5, are
very close to the existing Sky Train tunnel. To avoid
vibration and interference of the soil improvement
treatment with the tunnel, Jet Grouting, vibration- free
operation, was chosen as a piling/structural soil
improvement solution.

A total of 36 single Jet-Grouted piles, double system,
7.5 meters deep, were installed, in addition to
foundation elements of different shapes, 7.5 to 15
meters deep, for a total of 305 Jet-grouted columns, as
shown in Figure 5.



Figure 5

See the next paragraph for the compression test on
Jet-Grouted Columns.
The soils characteristic in the project are quite
heterogeneous with, in principle, 0 to 6 meters of Fill,
over 6 to 10 meters of Till over Sand.


3) SUMMARY OF THE DATA, ENERGETIC
EVALUATION AND PRELIMINARY COMMENTS

In table #1 the Jet-Grouting results obtained in 4 of the
described jobs are summarized (in the shaft in North
Vancouver no tests were carried out due to the same
soil conditions of the previous job).

In this table an energetic evaluation of Jet-Grouting is
introduced. The Energetic Evaluation of Jet-Grouting
has been the object of several papers by Mr. R.
Tornaghi (Ref.2 is the most recent). The Specific
Energy, function of the parameter used during Jet-
grouting, is used both for design and evaluation of the
results.

The applied energy (Es) per unit length of column
(Specific Energy) is calculated using the following
formula, for the single Jet-grouting:

Q*p
Es = -----------
vt

where:
Q= grout mix flow rate (m3/hr)
P= grout mix pressure (MPa)
vt= velocity of the withdraw of the rods (pulling back)
during the jetting (m/hr)

In the case of double or triple jet-grouting, the
contribution of the air is evaluated as:

Esa= 0.35 * Qa [ (10* pa)
0.29
-1 ] / vt

With the data at our disposal, and analyzing the table,
we can observe:

- The range of Energy used in the 4 jobs, varies
from 13 to 49 MJ/meter; of course minor in
the case of the single Jet-Grouting (13 MJ/m)
up to 49 MJ/m in case of using double Jet-
Grouting and high pressure/volume
compressor.
- The value of Energy used is quite consistent
in relationship to the diameters obtained and
the type of soil. For instance the smaller
amount of energy used in Mitchell Island test,
produced diameters of columns of 600 to 900
mm and 49 MJ/m produced diameters in the
order of 1,200 mm in case of the job in
Quantum New Westminster, even though
the soils are slightly different.
- Also in terms of compressive strength, the
results are very consistent. In clay the UCS
was between 3 MPa and 4 MPa. In over bank
silt the UCS was from 4 MPa to 5 MPa, and in
fine to medium sand, between 10 MPa and 11
MPa. 18 MPa have been reached in the case
of gravelly and cobbly soil.
- The hydraulic conductivity, in the tests carried
out, also gave consistent results with
interesting values in sand (highest content of
cement) and over bank silt. The lowest values
of hydraulic conductivity were detected in
medium granular soil with lowest content of
cement.

In terms of results, here below, we are analyzing the
results obtained in a static compression test carried out
in the Quantum-New Westminster Job.

To verify the diameter of the columns and the capacity
of the piles, a preliminary field test was carried out,
with static compression test. Two (2) columns, as piles,
with different parameters were Jet-Grouted, in addition
to 3 Jet-Grouted reaction anchors to carry out 2
compression tests, after 28 days, as per sketch of
Figure 6.



Figure 6

Photo 8 shows the head of the column, and photo 9
illustrates one of the compression test setups.



Photo 8: Pile #1, 1,200 mm diameter

Pile # 1 was tested, in a first attempt, up to 500 kips
(2,225 kN). This test was suspended due to problems
with the beam. The second attempt on the same pile
reached 700 kips. See Figure 7 and 8 with the graphs
of the results..
Pile # 2 was tested up the maximum load reachable
from the beam, and it was suspended at 800 kips
(3,560 kN). See Figure 9.



Photo 9- Compression test set-up



Figure 7- Jet-Grouted Pile tested at 500 kips 1
st
Test



Figure 8- Pile # 1 Tested at 700 kips.



Figure 9-. Pile # 2 tested at 800 kips

After the permanent settlement of the pile, small elastic
movement was noticed.

Once the compression test was completed coring
through the 2 columns was carried out, one in the
center and the second 50 cm from the center.
Photos 10, 11 and 12 show some details of the coring
and results.



Photo 10: Log Box of pile #1



Photo 11: Detail of a Jet-Grouted sample with cobbles
inclusion.


Photo 12: Jet-Grouted sample with the contact
between a cored boulder, found 50 cm from the center
of the column, and the jet-grouted soil.

On some core samples, compression tests with
evaluation of Young modulus and Poisson ratio, were
carried out. See Table # 2 for the results.

To install a barrier, as additional protection of the Sky
Train tunnel, the General Contractor excavated a
vertical trench.
The excavation, 6.5 meters deep, provided the
possibility of seeing the Jet-Grouted elements that
appeared as a massive wall with excellent
characteristics. The excavation didnt require any
support protection for the safety of the personnel. See
photo 13 and 14 with the detail of the excavation.



Photo 13- Jet-Grouted Column on the left.



Photo 14

4) DRILING PARAMETERS REGISTRATION

The Q/A, Q/C, computer controlled system with
continuous registration of the parameters, used during
the execution of Jet-Grouting allow for evaluation to all
the jet-grouting parameters, as detailed in our previous
paper (Ref1). The same computerized system is able
to record also the drilling parameters as: advancement
speed, rotation, torque and thrust.

With these parameters it is possible to evaluate the
specific energy used during drilling. Specific energy
during drilling has already been object of papers
(Ref.3) in the past, and can be evaluated with the
following formula:

e = F/A + 2*pi*R*T/A/v (KJ/m3)

where:

F= Thrust (kN) (force that is applied onto the drill rod)
A= Area of the hole (m2)
R= rotation (r per sec)
T= Torque (kN*m)
V= penetration rate (m/sec)

Figure 10 shows the graph of the drilling parameters
obtained, for example, in the Surrey-infinity job. In this
job, as explained before, a change of the Jet-Grouting
parameters was required to obtain the same diameter
of columns in different soils.
As we can see from the graph, the change of soil
conditions is clearly visible at 6.5 meters. The
advancement speed drops from approx. 400 cm/min to
approx. 200 cm/min or less, the rpm and pressure drop
and change , from constant values to very irregular.
The torque, as opposite and logical, increases.
This evaluation of the drilling graphs allowed the
possibility of knowing very precisely the depth in which
the change of Jet-Grouting parameters was required.



Figure 10- Drilling parameters report.


Figure 11 shows the same graph with the addition of
the specific energy, correlated with the depth. The
evaluation of the specific energy does not permit
evaluation the characteristic of the soil but can provide
an idea of the consistency of the soil and can be
considered, in general terms, as an equivalent of the
SPT. Tests and evaluation are still under development.


5) CONCLUSION

After two (2) years of Jet-Grouting in British Columbia
we can definitely affirm that the system was already
entered locally into the field of common technologies
used for soil improvement. The case histories
described in this paper show only a few samples of the
range of applicability of Jet-Grouting.

The flexibility of the technology with the possibility of
adapting the parameters to different soil conditions,
drill through obstruction, in addition to vibration and
noise-free operations, with no problem of headroom
and the use of medium/small equipment have kept
the technology popular.


6) ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

We would like to thank Con-Tech System Inc and
Obermann KG for the assistance in the preparation of
the drilling parameter data, results and evaluation.


References

1) P.Gazzarrini-M.Kokan-S.Jungaro, Case History of
Jet-Grouting in BC- Underpinning of CN Rail Tunnel in
North Vancouver- 58
th
CGS Geotechnical Conference-
Geo-Sask 2005, Saskatoon, September18-21, 2005
2) R. Tornaghi- A. Pettinaroli. Design and Control
Criteria of Jet-Grouting Treatments. ASEP-GI 2004,
Paris 9-10 September 2004. Pages 295, 319
3) De Paoli-G.Viola-A.Tomiolo The Use of Drilling
Energy For Soil Classification. International
Symposium, FMGM87, Kobe, Japan, April 6-9, 1987








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