An Overview of Soil Improvement through Ground Grouting

Soil is an essential component of what surrounds us in nature, providing as the basis for our infrastructure and construction. However, soil is not always suitable for construction due to a variety of geotechnical issues such as inadequate bearing capacity, excessive settlement, and liquefaction susceptibility. Through improving the engineering qualities of soil, such as strength, permeability, and stability, ground grouting is a specific geotechnical method used. Using a fluid grout mixture injected into the subsurface, holes are filled and weak or loose strata are solidified as the material seeps into the soil matrix. The approach’s adaptability in addressing soil-related issues has made it more well-known in the fields of civil engineering and construction. In the end, this has improved groundwater management, foundation support, and overall geotechnical performance.

Assessment of compressive strength of jet grouting by machine learning

Jet grouting is one of the most popular soil improvement techniques,but its design usually involves great uncertainties that can lead to economic cost overruns in construction projects.The high dispersion in the properties of the improved material leads to designers assuming a conservative,arbitrary and unjustified strength,which is even sometimes subjected to the results of the test fields.The present paper presents an approach for prediction of the uniaxial compressive strength(UCS)of jet grouting columns based on the analysis of several machine learning algorithms on a database of 854 results mainly collected from different research papers.The selected machine learning model(extremely randomized trees)relates the soil type and various parameters of the technique to the value of the compressive strength.Despite the complex mechanism that surrounds the jet grouting process,evidenced by the high dispersion and low correlation of the variables studied,the trained model allows to optimally predict the values of compressive strength with a significant improvement with respect to the existing works.Consequently,this work proposes for the first time a reliable and easily applicable approach for estimation of the compressive strength of jet grouting columns.

Stability behavior of the Lanxi ancient flood control levee after reinforcement with upside-down hanging wells and grouting curtain

The stability of the ancient flood control levees is mainly influenced by water level fluctuations, groundwater concentration and rainfalls. This paper takes the Lanxi ancient levee as a research object to study the evolution laws of its seepage, displacement and stability before and after reinforcement with the upside-down hanging wells and grouting curtain through numerical simulation methods combined with experiments and observations. The study results indicate that the filled soil is less affected by water level fluctuations and groundwater concentration after reinforcement. A high groundwater level is detrimental to the levee's long-term stability, and the drainage issues need to be fully considered. The deformation of the reinforced levee is effectively controlled since the fill deformation is mainly borne by the upside-down hanging wells. The safety factors of the levee before reinforcement vary significantly with the water level. The minimum value of the safety factors is 0.886 during the water level decreasing period, indicating a very high risk of the instability. While it reached 1.478 after reinforcement, the stability of the ancient levee is improved by a large margin.

Large-scale model testing of high-pressure grouting reinforcement for bedding slope with rapid-setting polyurethane

Bedding slope is a typical heterogeneous slope consisting of different soil/rock layers and is likely to slide along the weakest interface.Conventional slope protection methods for bedding slopes,such as retaining walls,stabilizing piles,and anchors,are time-consuming and labor-and energy-intensive.This study proposes an innovative polymer grout method to improve the bearing capacity and reduce the displacement of bedding slopes.A series of large-scale model tests were carried out to verify the effectiveness of polymer grout in protecting bedding slopes.Specifically,load-displacement relationships and failure patterns were analyzed for different testing slopes with various dosages of polymer.Results show the great potential of polymer grout in improving bearing capacity,reducing settlement,and protecting slopes from being crushed under shearing.The polymer-treated slopes remained structurally intact,while the untreated slope exhibited considerable damage when subjected to loads surpassing the bearing capacity.It is also found that polymer-cemented soils concentrate around the injection pipe,forming a fan-shaped sheet-like structure.This study proves the improvement of polymer grouting for bedding slope treatment and will contribute to the development of a fast method to protect bedding slopes from landslides.

Numerical investigation of geostress influence on the grouting reinforcement effectiveness of tunnel surrounding rock mass in fault fracture zones

Grouting is a widely used approach to reinforce broken surrounding rock mass during the construction of underground tunnels in fault fracture zones,and its reinforcement effectiveness is highly affected by geostress.In this study,a numerical manifold method(NMM)based simulator has been developed to examine the impact of geostress conditions on grouting reinforcement during tunnel excavation.To develop this simulator,a detection technique for identifying slurry migration channels and an improved fluid-solid coupling(FeS)framework,which considers the influence of fracture properties and geostress states,is developed and incorporated into a zero-thickness cohesive element(ZE)based NMM(Co-NMM)for simulating tunnel excavation.Additionally,to simulate coagulation of injected slurry,a bonding repair algorithm is further proposed based on the ZE model.To verify the accuracy of the proposed simulator,a series of simulations about slurry migration in single fractures and fracture networks are numerically reproduced,and the results align well with analytical and laboratory test results.Furthermore,these numerical results show that neglecting the influence of geostress condition can lead to a serious over-estimation of slurry migration range and reinforcement effectiveness.After validations,a series of simulations about tunnel grouting reinforcement and tunnel excavation in fault fracture zones with varying fracture densities under different geostress conditions are conducted.Based on these simula-tions,the influence of geostress conditions and the optimization of grouting schemes are discussed.

Numerical Simulation of Surrounding Rock Deformation and Grouting Reinforcement of Cross-Fault Tunnel under Different Excavation Methods

Tunnel construction is susceptible to accidents such as loosening, deformation, collapse, and water inrush, especiallyunder complex geological conditions like dense fault areas. These accidents can cause instability and damageto the tunnel. As a result, it is essential to conduct research on tunnel construction and grouting reinforcementtechnology in fault fracture zones to address these issues and ensure the safety of tunnel excavation projects. Thisstudy utilized the Xianglushan cross-fault tunnel to conduct a comprehensive analysis on the construction, support,and reinforcement of a tunnel crossing a fault fracture zone using the three-dimensional finite element numericalmethod. The study yielded the following research conclusions: The excavation conditions of the cross-fault tunnelarray were analyzed to determine the optimal construction method for excavation while controlling deformationand stress in the surrounding rock. The middle partition method (CD method) was found to be the most suitable.Additionally, the effects of advanced reinforcement grouting on the cross-fault fracture zone tunnel were studied,and the optimal combination of grouting reinforcement range (140°) and grouting thickness (1m) was determined.The stress and deformation data obtained fromon-site monitoring of the surrounding rock was slightly lower thanthe numerical simulation results. However, the change trend of both sets of data was found to be consistent. Theseresearch findings provide technical analysis and data support for the construction and design of cross-fault tunnels.

Research on Sleeve Grouting Density Detection Based on the Impact Echo Method

Grouting defects are an inherent challenge in construction practices,exerting a considerable impact on the operational structural integrity of connections.This investigation employed the impact-echo technique for the detection of grouting anomalies within connections,enhancing its precision through the integration of wavelet packet energy principles for damage identification purposes.A series of grouting completeness assessments were meticulously conducted,taking into account variables such as the divergent material properties of the sleeves and the configuration of adjacent reinforcement.The findings revealed that:(i)the energy distribution for the highstrength concrete cohort predominantly occupied the frequency bands 42,44,45,and 47,whereas for other groups,it was concentrated within the 37 to 40 frequency band;(ii)the delineation of empty sleeves was effectively discernible by examining the wavelet packet energy ratios across the spectrum of frequencies,albeit distinguishing between sleeves with 50%and full grouting density proved challenging;and(iii)the wavelet packet energy analysis yielded variable detection outcomes contingent on the material attributes of the sleeves,demonstrating heightened sensitivity when applied to ultrahigh-performance concrete matrices and GFRP-reinforced steel bars.

Grouting theories and technologies for the reinforcement of fractured rocks surrounding deep roadways

Grouting is an effective method to improve the integrity and stability of fractured rocks that surround deep roadways.After years of research and practice,various theories and a complete set of grouting technologies for deep roadways with fractured rocks have been developed and are widely applied in Chinese coal mining production.This paper systematically summarizes and analyzes the research results concerning the theory,design,materials,processes,and equipment for the grouting and reinforcement of fractured rocks surrounding deep roadways.Specifically,in terms of grouting methods,pregrouting,groutingwhile-excavation,and postgrouting methods are explored;in terms of grouting theory,backfill grouting,compaction grouting,infiltration grouting,and fracture grouting theories are studied.In addition,this paper also studies grouting borehole arrangement,water-cement ratio,grouting pressure,grouting volume,grout diffusion radius,and other grouting parameters and their determination methods.On this basis,this paper explores the physical and mechanical properties of organic and organic-inorganic composite grouting materials,and assess grouting reinforcement quality testing methods and instruments.Taken as the field cases,the application of pregrouting in front of heading faces,groutingwhile-excavation,and postgrouting in the Kouzidong coal mine are then introduced,and the effects of the grouting reinforcements are evaluated.This paper proposes a development direction for grouting technology based on problems existing in the grouting reinforcement of fractured rocks surrounding deep roadways.

Propagation and sealing efficiency of chemical grouting in a two-dimensional fracture network with flowing water

In this study, an orthogonal array experiment is conducted by using a transparent fracture network replica. Image processing and theoretical analysis are performed to investigate the model sealing efficiency(SE), factors influencing SE, and the effect of flowing water on propagation. The results show that grout propagation can be classified into three patterns in the fracture network: sealing off, partial sealing,and major erosion. The factors controlling the SE in a descending order of the amount of influence are the initial water flow speed, fracture aperture, grout take, and gel time. An optimal value for the combination of the gel time and grout take(artificial factors) can result in a good SE. The grouting and seepage pressures are measured, and the results reveal that their variations can indicate the SE to some extent. The SE is good when the seepage pressure at each point increases overall;the frequent fluctuations in the seepage pressure indicate a moderately poor SE, and an overall decline in the seepage pressure indicates a major erosion type. The deflection effect of grouting shows an approximately elliptical propagation with the long axis expanding along the wider fracture opening, demonstrating further application in grouting design.

STUDY ON MESO-MECHANICAL SIMULATION OF GROUTING FOR UNFAVORABLE GEOLOGICAL CONDITIONS

The numerical simulation program of PFC2D(Particle Flow Code in 2 Dimension)particle flow based on the flow-solid coupling principle and,on its built-in FISHTANK function library and FISH language,defines the flow equation and pressure equation of fluid domain respectively,and carries out numerical simulation calculations on the diffusion process and,on the morphology and particle displacement of slurry during the slurry injection process.By adjusting the parameters of hist,n_bond,s_bond and measure in the PFC command flow,the tracking of granular body displacement changes is achieved,and the mesoscopic mechanism such as the diffusion law of soil slurry at different depths and the change of formation porosity is revealed.The numerical calculations show that:the grouting pressure has a significant effect on the alteration and destruction of the formation structure,and the fracturing effect becomes gradually worse with increasing adhesive strength,while the porosity increases significantly with increasing grouting pressure.Based on the elastic-plastic theory of the Mohr-Colomb criterion to theoretically derive the stress field of the soil around the borehole,it is pointed out that the mechanical mechanism of annular tension and radial compression is the fundamental reason for the appearance of fracturing grouting action mode.The increase of slurry viscosity is beneficial to improve the grouting effect of fracturing-compacting grouting,while the increase of friction coefficient has little effect on the grouting effect.The comparative analysis of the laboratory tests shows that the PFC2D simulation of the grouting process is feasible.

Experimental Study of Moso Bamboo to-Steel Connections with Embedded Grouting Materials

Moso bamboos have attracted excessive attention as a renewable green building material to the concept of sustainable development.In this paper,the 20 bolted Moso bamboo connection specimens with embedded steel plates and grouting materials were designed according to connection configurations with different bolt diameters and end distance of bolt holes,and their bearing capacities and failure modes were analyzed by static tension tests.According to the test results of all connectors,the failure modes of the specimens are divided into four categories,and the effects of bolt diameter and bolt hole end distance on the connection bearing capacity and failure mode are analyzed.The test results show that the deformation and failure process can be divided into four stages.The main influence factor of connector bearing capacity is bolt diameter.Connectors can be divided into four failure modes,and brittle failure can be avoided by adopting certain structural measures.Filling with grouting material can improve the bearing capacity of joints.Due to the large variability of bamboo,further experiments are needed.

Experimental Study on Ratio and Performance of Coal Gangue/Bottom Ash Geopolymer Double-Liquid Grouting Material

Mine grouting reinforcement and water plugging projects often require large amounts of grouting materials.To reduce the carbon emission of grouting material production,improve the utilization of solid waste from mining enterprises,and meet the needs of mine reinforcement and seepage control,a double-liquid grouting material containing a high admixture of coal gangue powder/bottom ash geopolymer was studied.The setting time,fluidity,bleeding rate,and mechanical properties of grouting materials were studied through laboratory tests,and SEM analyzed the microstructure of the materials.The results show that the total mixture of calcined gangue does not exceed 60%.And the proportion of bottom ash replacing cement should be within 30%.At the same time,the volume mixture of sodium silicate is 20%.And the water-solid ratio does not exceed 0.6.The stability of the slurry prepared under this ratio is good.The microstructure of the stone body is dense,and its strength can meet the requirements of rock reinforcement and seepage control.Its economic and environmental benefits are more significant than the traditional cement-silicate double-liquid grouting material.

The Effect of Jet Grouting on Enhancing the Lateral Behavior of Piled Raft Foundation in Soft Clay(Numerical Investigation)

Soft clay soils cannot usually support large lateral loads,so clay soils must be improved to increase lateral resistance.The jet grouting method is one of the methods used to improve weak soils.In this paper,a series of 3D finite element studies were conducted using Plaxis 3D software to investigate the lateral behavior of piled rafts in improved soft clay utilizing the jet grouting method.Parametric models were analyzed to explore the influence of the width,depth,and location of the grouted clay on the lateral resistance.Additionally,the effect of vertical loads on the lateral behavior of piled rafts in grouted clay was also investigated.The numerical results indicate that the lateral resistance increases by increasing the dimensions of the jet grouting beneath and around the piled raft.Typical increases in lateral resistance are 11.2%,65%,177%,and 35%for applying jet grouting beside the raft,below the raft,below and around the raft,and grouted strips parallel to lateral loads,respectively.It was also found that increasing the depth of grouted clay enhances lateral resistance up to a certain depth,about 6 to 10 times the pile diameter(6 to 10D).In contrast,the improvement ratio is limited beyond 10D.Furthermore,the results demonstrate that the presence of vertical loads has a significant impact on sideward resistance.

Analysis of Grouting Technology in Building Construction

The application of grouting technology in housing construction is to inject liquid grout into the cavities and cracks of housing construction.After it solidifies,the stability of housing construction can be improved.Grouting technology is not only very convenient but is also environmental-friendly,and it is relatively low-cost.Therefore,it is widely used in housing construction.In this paper,the types of grouting technology and its application advantages in housing construction are analyzed,and specific application strategies are put forward,in hopes of improving the quality of housing construction.

Comparative experimental investigation of chemical grouting into a fracture with flowing and static water

We present a series of experimental tests on chemical grouting into a fracture with flowing and static water,using a transparent fracture grouting experimental device.Variations of seepage pressure and grout propagation were compared in our investigation.The results show that flowing water results in drops of seepage pressure,development of penetration radii in the upstream side and drops of propagation area during the same period,compared with grouting in static water.The propagation area in static water is always round before grouts reach the joint boundaries.However,the propagation shape changes from round to an elliptic shape for grouting into a fracture with flowing water.A theoretical model for the grout penetration radius in a fracture considering flowing velocity was developed and validated by our experimental results.These results are helpful in improving understanding of fracture grouting mechanism and in guiding engineering practices.

Engineering practice of reducing ground subsidence by grouting into overburden bed-separated and similar model experiment

The subsidence prediction theory under the condition of grouting into bedseparated was developed. Reducing ground subsidence by grouting was carried out on eight fully-mechanized top-coal caving faces, by using the continuous grouting in multiple-layer to obtain experiment results of reducing subsidence under fully mining. The similar material model that can be dismantled under the condition of constant temperature and constant humidity was developed. The model was used to simulate the evolution of overburden bed-separated under such constraints of temperature and humidity, at the same time, and to test the hardening process of similar materials.

Mechanical properties of anti-seepage grouting materials for heavy metal contaminated soil

Cement-based composite grouting materials were used to construct grouting cutoff wall for heavy metal contaminated soil in non-ferrous metal mining areas. Cement, fly ash, and slag as principal ingredients were mixed with water glass in different ways to produce three composite grouting materials. In order to investigate the effect of water glass mixing ratio, Baume degree, fly ash and slag contents on the mechanical properties of the composite grouting materials, particularly their gel time and compressive strength, the beaker-to-beaker method of gel time test and unconfined compressive strength test were conducted. In addition, the phase composition and microstructure of the composite grouting materials were analyzed by the X-ray diffraction（XRD） and scanning electron microscope（SEM） techniques. The test results show that their gel time increases when water glass mixing ratio and Baume degree increase. The gel time increases dramatically when fly ash is added, but decreases slightly if fly ash is partly replaced by slag. When the mixing ratio of water glass is below 20%, their compressive strength increases with the increases of the ratio; when the ratio is above 20%, it significantly decreases. The compressive strength also tends to increase as Baume degree increases, and improves if fly ash and slag are added.

A grouting simulation method for quick-setting slurry in karst conduit:The sequential flow and solidification method

It is difficult to temporally and spatially track and characterize the slurry viscosity in flowing water during grouting simulation.In this study,a sequential flow and solidification(SFS)method considering the spatial-temporal evolution of slurry viscosity in flowing water in karst conduit is proposed.First,a time-dependent model for the threshold function of slurry viscosity is established.During the grouting process,the spatial-temporal evolution of slurry viscosity is revealed by tracking the diffusion behavior of the slurry injected at different times.This method is capable of describing the gradual solidification process of the slurry during grouting.Furthermore,a physical model of grouting in a karst conduit is developed.Second,the effectiveness of the SFS method in grouting simulation is verified by the experiment of grouting conduit in flowing water.The SFS method enables real-time monitoring of fluid velocity and pressure during grouting in flowing water and provides a feasible calculation method for revealing the grouting plugging mechanism in complex karst conduits at different engineering scales.In addition,it can be used to guide the design of grouting tests in flowing water,improve cost efficiency,and provide theoretical basis for optimizing grouting design and slurry selection.

Information and knowledge behind data from underground rock grouting

Data related to the pre-grouting work of a large underground project are systematically analyzed to reveal the mechanism behind,to shed some light on the execution of practical grouting,and to enrich the theory of engineering geology.Grouting is generally taken as an effective way for controlling nonignorable water seepage during underground rock excavation.Though various models have been developed to guide grouting design or to specify criteria for grouting stop,it does not change the fact that grouting is still highly experience-based.Therefore,explanation of the current situation due to grouting complexity is given through step-by-step data analysis,where the impact on grouting parameters from the geological and hydrogeological conditions is investigated,and the grouting features of two tunnels located at the same depth below the sea surface are compared and discussed.Then,the data from individual grout hole are used to construct the regional geological conditions via inverse analysis.It is found that grouting of fractured rock masses is accompanied with great uncertainty,and field grouting data can contribute significantly to a better understanding of the regional geological conditions around an underground tunnel or rock cavern.

The Rheological Properties of Ultra-fine High Performance Grouting Cement

The material properties of surface and powder, rheological property, and mineral composition were investigated by means of SEM, XRD, Malvern laser granulometer and rotary, viscometer. The influence of a admixture on ultra-fine cement rheological properties and its mechanism, were studied in material theories. The results show that the ultra-fine fly ash has a higher zeta potential, and improves flowability of ultra-fine cement paste, decreases flowability loss as time prolonging, improves compatibility between superplasticizers and cement because of the electrostatic repulsion, ball bearing effect, filling and dispersing effect of admixtures and delay-releasing effect of superplasticizers.