Bearing Capacity Assessment of Collapsible Soils Improved by Deep Soil Mixing Using Finite Element Method

Problematic soils usually cause considerable problems to engineering projects. As an example, soil structure collapse caused by moisture increment or rising underground water level results in huge settlements. This type of problematic soil, named collapsible soil, can cause dramatic problems and should be amended where exists. Today, the use of different techniques for soil reinforcement and soil improvement is widely used to treat soil properties. One of these methods is Deep Soil Mixing (DSM) method. This method becomes more important in the cases of studying and examining collapsible soils. In this research, the settlement of amended collapsible soils, applying deep soil mixing method, is examined. The experiments show that soil amendment using this method, well prevents the settlement of collapsible soils giving rise to bearing capacity.

Simulation of Excess Pore Water Pressure During Deep Soil Mixing Columns Installing

Most of current studies of deep soil mixing (DSM) methods are focused on the soil strength improvement and soil treatment effectiveness. But the DSM installation leads to excess pore water pressure and soil disturbance, which will bring great harm to adjacent structures, such as shell tunnels and historic buildings. The procedure of excess pore water pressure buildup while large number DSM columns are installed is complicated. In order to find methods to predict and simulate the excess pore water pressure during DSM column installation, the complicated dissipation and buildup of excess pore water pressure through in-situ test are studied in this paper. In-situ test was conducted in soft clay near the Huangpu River in Shanghai. The pore water pressure was investigated by an automatic monitoring system. Test results indicate that the excess pore water pressure induced by one DSM column installation is composed of the compaction pressure and the reversing pressure. The empirical equations of excess pore water pressure dissipation and buildup were built by mathematical fitting methods. A compound method is proposed to simulate the excess pore water pressure due to DSM installation. Using this method to predict the excess pore water pressure in the situ test, results show a well agreement between the prediction and the measurements.

Effects of deep soil mixing on existing shield tunnels in soft soil ground

To mitigate the impact of adjacent construction on existing shield tunnels,deep soil mixing(DSM)has been widely used to reinforce the soft soil ground around shield tunnels.However,the construction of DSM may cause the movement of existing shield tunnels under soft soil and sensitive ground conditions,and reasonable installation parameters will reduce the impact of DSM construction on the existing shield tunnels.Based on the field tests of DSM installation parameters and a program of field measurements of existing shield tunnels during the DSM construction in Suzhou,the reasonable installation parameters of DSM were selected,and the movement of soil behind the soil mixing walls(SMWs)during multirow DSM installation was investigated.The movement of the shield tunnels caused by DSM construction were discussed in detail.The field test results showed that the DSM columns installed at a higher speed and a lower water-cement ratio enlarged the movement of the surrounding soil.The DSM should be installed at a lower speed and a higher watercement ratio to reduce the movement of the shield tunnels.The field measurement results showed that the displacement of the tunnel lining was primarily caused by the construction of DSM zones beside the shield tunnels,which led to vertical compression and horizontal expansion of the tunnel lining.The construction of DSM immediately above the shield tunnels caused uplift to the tunnels.In addition,the deformed shapes of the two shield tunnels were asymmetric,and the displacement of the spring lining was larger than that of the crown.By taking the reasonable installation parameters of DSM and under the protection of the SMWs,the deformation of the shield tunnels caused by the construction of DSM was effectively controlled,and the maximum displacement was within the control value of the shield tunnels in this study.

Soil-cement mixture properties and design considerations for reinforced excavation

soil-cement is a mixture produced by grouting or mixing cement with soils. This paper reviews and discusses the general classifications of grouting techniques and the suitability of their applications.The mechanical properties of soil-cement mixture and the influence of sodium silicate added are discussed. Design considerations for deep soil mixed wall(DSMW) for excavation support and vault arch for tunnelling stabilisation are presented. Parameters for the numerical analysis of soil-cement mixture are evaluated and recommended.

Experimental study on geosynthetic-reinforced sand fill over marine clay with or without deep cement mixed soil columns under different loadings

Geosynthetics and deep cement mixed(DCM)soil columns have been widely used to improve soft soil grounds in many countries and regions.This paper presents an experimental study on a geosynthetic-reinforced sand fill over marine clay with or without DCM columns under different loadings.Two tests were conducted on the sand fill reinforced with fixed-end and free-end geosynthetics over marine clay under three-stage local loading to investigate the effects of the boundary conditions of geosynthetic reinforcement on reducing settlements.It is observed that the fixed-end geosynthetic sheet is more effective in reducing settlements than the free-end condition under identical local loading.Another test was conducted on the fixed-end geosynthetic-reinforced sand fill over the marine clay improved by DCM columns under single-stage uniform loading.The vertical stresses on the marine clay and on the DCM columns,as well as the tensile strains of the geosynthetic sheet in the overlying sand fill,were measured.The results revealed that the stress concentration ratio increases with an increase in consolidation settlements,and the maximum tensile strain of the geosynthetic sheet occurs near the edge rather than at the center of the top surface of the DCM columns.

Transportation infrastructure settlement and heave distress:challenges and solutions

Transportation agencies spend millions of dollars annually to repair civil transportation infrastructure including pavements,earth structures and approach slabs distressed by soft compressible soils and expansive soils.Several research studies performed at the University of Texas at Arlington(UTA) focused on stabilizing these problematic soils so that they will provide better and more stable support to the transportation infrastructure.This paper focuses on a summary of two major distresses and mechanisms,and remedial measures for addressing these distress problems.A combined lime-cement stabilization method is fully evaluated in providing better support of pavement infrastructure,and these results are described here.Another major transportation infrastructure problem involving bridge approach slabs requires different treatment methods,and these results are briefly described.As a part of the recently completed research study assessments,both shallow and deep soil treatment methods for stabilizing soils are fully evaluated for their effectiveness in arresting the distress posed to the pavements and bridge approach slabs.These results along with a few future research needs are presented in this paper.