Ground

Improvement
Techniques and
Its Applications
Abstract:

It is due to rapid growth of population, fast urbanization and more development of infrastructures
like buildings, highways , railways and other structures in recent past years has resulted in
reduction of availability of good quality of land. Therefore engineers have no choice left except
to use soft and weak soils around by improving their strength by means of suitable modern
ground improvement techniques for construction activities. At present the available ground
improvement techniques are replacement of soil, vertical drains, stone columns, vibro
compaction, dynamic compaction, soil reinforcement, vibro piers, in-situ densification, pre-
loadings, grouting and stabilization using admixtures.

The aim of these techniques is to increase the bearing capacity of soil and reduce the settlement.
Ground improvement by reinforcing the soil is achieved by using fibers of steel, glass, various
polymers in the form of strips or grids and geosynthetics. Geosynthetics may be permeable or
impermeable in nature depending on composition and its structure. The geosynthetics material
can be used to perform different roles in different applications. It can be used as reinforcement,
separation, filtration, protection, containment and confinement of soil to increase its bearing
capacity. Depending upon the requirement and site condition Geocell reinforcement may also be
used. This paper presents a thorough study on various available modern ground improvement
techniques and their applications in civil engineering in present scenario. On the basis of long
term performance results of various ground improvement techniques and its analysis, an efficient
design can be developed and a suitable method of ground improvement technique may be
adopted for a particular application.
INTRODUCTION:

The social, economic, cultural and industrial growth of any country depends heavily on its
transportation system. The only mode which could give maximum service to one and all is
transportation by highways and railways. As a result of development of infrastructures like
buildings, highways, railways and other structures in recent past years has resulted
in scarcity of good quality of land for construction projects. Therefore the engineers are bound to
adopt inferior and weak soil for construction. In present scenario the role of ground improvement
techniques has become an important and crucial task for various construction projects. By
ground improvement techniques the strength of the soil increases, its compressibility reduces and
the performance under applied loading enhances.

The expansive and collapsible soils are challenges to engineers due to their peculiar behavior of
high swelling and shrinkage action. The construction of foundation on sanitary landfills, soft
soils, organic soils and karst deposits are troublesome. It is to better to replace or bypass such
type of soil strata by adopting suitable design of foundation and if not possible the ground
improvement is the best solution for such construction project site. This paper presents thorough
study on various available modern ground improvement techniques and their applications in civil
engineering in present scenario.
BASIC PRINCIPLE OF GROUND IMPROVEMENT:

Ground improvement is the modification of the ground properties in order to achieve the
required ground conditions for the particular use of the ground:

 Densification of the ground: E.g:Compaction

 Accelerate the consolidation: E.g: Vertical drains
 Usage of geo synthetics: E.g: Geotextiles
 Usage of admixtures E.g: cement stabilization
 Preloading
 Mechanical stabilization

Objective of Ground Improvement Techniques

The most common traditional objectives include improvement of the soil and ground for use as a
foundation or construction material.

The typical Engineering objectives have been:

1) Increasing shear strength, durability, stiffness. And stability:

2) Mitigating undesirable properties (eg. Shrink/ swell potential, compressibility, liquefability

3) Modifying permeability, the rate of fluid to flow through a medium; and

4) Improving efficiency and productivity by using methods that save time and expense, The
engineer must take a determination on how best to achieve the desired goals required by
providing a workable solution for each project encountered. Ground improvement methods have
provided adverse choice of approaches to solving these challenges.
Factors affecting choice of improvement method

1. Soil type :

This is one of the most important parameters that will control what approach or materials will be
applicable to only certain types of soil types and grain sizes

2. Area , depth and location of treatment required

Many ground improvement methods have depth limitations that render them unsuitable for
applications for deeper soil horizons.

3. Desired/required soil properties

Obviously, different methods are use to achieve different engineering properties, and certain
methods will provide various levels of uniformity to improved sites.

4. Availability of materials

Depending on the location of the project and materials required for each fesible ground
improvements approach.

5. Availability of skills, local experience, and local preferences-

While the engineer may possess the knowledge and understanding of a preferred method.

6. Environmental concerns

With a better understanding and a greater awareness of effects on the natural environment, more
attention has been placed on methods that assure less environmental impacts.

7. Economics

when all else has been considered, the final decision on choice of improvement method will
often come down to the ultimate cost of a proposed method, or cost will be the deciding factor in
choosing between two or more otherwise suitable methods.
GROUND IMPROVEMENT TECHNIQUES

Mechanical Stabilization:

The prime purpose of this technique is to increase soil density by applying mechanical
force in the form of static, vibratory rollers and plate vibrators as the case may be to achieve
proper compaction. Compaction of the soil can be done easily if the soil fill material is well
graded. Well graded soil being characterized by high uniformity coefficient Cu >15 and
coefficient of curvature Cc between 1 and 3 can be compacted to greater density by rollers ,
tampers and other mechanical means. The optimum moisture content (OMC) should be
determined and compaction should be done at or near the optimum moisture content for cohesive
soils to achieve max dry density (MDD) with sheep foot rollers. However in case of cohesion
less soils the compaction can be best achieved by vibrations. The various methods are listed
below

1 Vibro-flotation

2 Heavy weight compaction

3 Sand compaction piles

4 Stone columns

5 Blending

6 Blast Densification
 conclusions

From the study it can be concluded that the Ground Improvement Techniques is a technically
viable and cost effective solution for soils which are weak in strength and treatment is to be
done in order to make them suitable for construction. The use of various techniques have
been tested and its use has been proven in the recent past years for a variety of projects like
highways, ports, runways, industrial structures, railways, dams, slope stabilization,
excavations, tunneling and other infrastructure facilities. These methods of soil stabilization
have been used world-wide for variety of soils like loose sand, silts, clays and weak rocks. A
suitable and cost effective technique for ground improvement can be designed, keeping in
view the following points-

 Nature and type of soil

 Intensity of loading and
 Intended performance

In addition to above, before selecting any ground improvement technique it is important to

evaluate the cost of each particular method and expected soil improvement, available
equipments, which are the decisive factors for the selection of appropriate method. There are so
many methods available for ground improvement but still a method which suits for routine
application , perhaps not available. For future development the following possibility should be
explored-
1. Best incorporation sustainability consideration in suitable ground improvement method
selection on the basis of green construction and life cycle cost analysis.
2. Development of codes and legislation.

3. Study on adverse environmental impacts due the effect of adding things to the ground.
4. Development of a data bank with the description of incidents, variability of soil and material
properties and accidents for a more deep understanding of ground improvement.
5. Development of improved and more reliable method of ground improvement with adequate
quality control.
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