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Jian Chu
James M. Hoover Chair Professor, Iowa State University
(Formerly Nanyang Technological University, Singapore)
Shuwang Yan
Tianjin University, China
1
Outline
To illustrate BRIEFLY three ground
improvement methods and their
applications using three case histories
The three methods are
Vacuum preloading (+ surcharge) method
for soft clay treatment for a road
Explosive replacement method
for a highway construction
Drainage enhanced dynamic compaction
method for a runway construction
2
Vacuum Preloading
(+ Fill Surcharge)
Method
3
Principle
Vacuum Surcharge
Membrane
sand blanket
PVDs
5
Place horizontal pipes
6
Install field monitoring instruments
7
Seal with membranes
8
Apply vacuum (or/and surcharge)
9
Case Study: a road on very soft clay
51 m
+ +
SECTION I SECTION II
364.5 m
10
LL, PL and Wo Void ratio, e c u (kPa)
0 20 40 60 80 0 10 20 30 40
0.5 1 1.5 2
0 0
0
4 4
4
8 8 8
Depth (m)
Depth (m)
Depth (m)
12 12
12
16 16 16
Wo
PL
LL
20 20 20
12
Duration (days)
0 20 40 60 80 100 120
0.0
-0.2
Settlement (m)
-0.4
-0.6
0.0 m
-0.8 2.0 m
5.5 m
7.5 m
-1.0 9.5 m
13.0 m
15.5 m
-1.2
-10 4.0 m
6.0 m
-20 8.5 m
11.0 m
-30 14.5 m
18.0 m
-40
-50
-60
-70
-80
-90
10
12
14
us
16
18
Section I
20
-100 -50 0 50 100 150 200 250
Pore w ater pressure (kPa)
15
Undrained shear strength (kPa) Water content (%)
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 0 20 40 60 80
0 0
Before
2 2
After Before
After
4 4
6 6
8 8
Depth (m)
Depth (m)
10 10
12 12
14 14
16 16
18 18
20 20
16
Remarks on Vacuum Preloading
Method
Vacuum preloading is applicable to the
improvement of soft clay. It is cheaper and
faster compared to fill surcharge.
It is essential to measure both the settlements
and pore water pressures in order to calculate
the degree of consolidation and evaluate the
performance of soil improvement.
The effective depth of vacuum preloading is
much more than 10 m.
17
Explosive Replacement
Method
18
Basic Idea
Explosive Compaction has been a method
used to compact loose granular soil for
many years.
Explosive Replacement is to use explosive
to remove a soft clay layer and replace it
with crushed stones. It is applicable when
the soft soil layer to be improved is
relatively shallow and stones are readily
available.
19
Pile of stone
Crushed Profile before
Profile beforeimproved
crushed
for filling improvement
1
stones
5~6
1
1:0
.
8
4~6
Section that has been
6.8~8.5
Treated
replacedsection of
0.8
20
21
Profile after improved
Backfill
Soft
Silt
Clay
22
Installation of charges
23
24
25
Backfill and leveling off
26
Case Study: A Highway Project
0.5
Vegetation
Silty soil
8
Soft clay
1.8
Gravel
28
0
Crushed stones,
densely packed
5~6 m
Crushed stone
embedded in clay
8~9 m
Silty gravel
9~10.5 m
29
ks = 180 MPa
30
31
Remarks on Explosive
Replacement
The method is faster than preloading and
cheaper than deep cement mixing. It is
effective when the soft soil layer to be
replaced is less than 10 m.
It is particularly suitable to road
construction in mountainous areas where
rocks are available (e.g., as part of
tunneling for the same road project).
32
Drainage Enhanced
Dynamic Compaction (DC)
Method
33
Basic Idea
34
Method
35
Case Study: a Runway Project
km
36
dt = 2.0 m
db = 2.5 m
W = 12 t =120 kN
H = 7.5 ~ 13 m
37
~ 1 day for 80% PWP to dissipate
38
Avoid high-energy compaction
39
Comparison
of CPT before
and after
compaction
40
Remarks on DC
41
Chu, J. Varaksin, S. Klotz, U. and Meng, P. (2009). Construction
Processes. State-of-the-art R eport, 17th International Conf on Soil
Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, Alexandria, Egypt, 5-10 Oct. Vol.
4, pp. 3006-3135 (130 pages).
Thank you!
43