Field Investigations on Performance of -Shaped Deep Mixed Soil Cement Column–Supported Embankments over Soft Ground
Publication: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 138, Issue 6
Abstract
The soil cement deep mixing method has been used to improve soft clayey soils under embankment loading conditions. A compacted granular fill layer or geosynthetic reinforcement layer is placed over the top of soil cement deep mixed (DM) columns to reduce differential settlement between DM soil and the surrounding untreated soil, which, in turn, increases embankment stability. Typically, in conventional deep mixing methodology, the soil cement columns are closely spaced, indicating large area replacement ratios in the construction projects. Such practice could increase construction costs substantially. In this research, a new type of DM column, called a -shaped DM (TDM) column, was designed and used as an alternative to the large-area-replacement-ratio DM columns employed in the field. Unlike in the conventional column, the cross section of the new column varies along the installation depth. Large amounts of cement slurry are injected and thoroughly mixed with the native shallow soil using specially designed mixing blades. At greater depths, deep mixing methodology is applied only to smaller-diameter columns, resulting in large-diameter columns near the surface and smaller-diameter columns deeper. Field trials were conducted to investigate the performance of TDM column–supported soft ground under embankment loading. For comparison, performance of conventional DM column–supported soft ground under similar embankment loading is presented. Differences in quality control studies and in situ plate loading tests on TDM and conventional DM columns are discussed. Under field embankment loading conditions, stress concentration ratio, excess pore water pressures generated in the soft clays, total monitored settlement, and lateral soil displacement near embankment toes are analyzed and discussed for both treatments. It is concluded that TDM columns have considerable advantages over conventional DM because they both mitigate settlement and enhance the performance of the embankments while reducing construction costs.
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Acknowledgments
This study is partly financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 50879011, 50878052, and 40972173). The authors are very grateful to Prof. Z. D. Zhu, Dr. P. S. Xi, Mr. B. F. Zhang, and Mr. Z. H. Zhu for their help during the field testing program.
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Information & Authors
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Published In
Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 138 • Issue 6 • June 2012
Pages: 718 - 727
Copyright
© 2012. American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Sep 3, 2010
Accepted: Aug 26, 2011
Published online: Aug 26, 2011
Published in print: Jun 1, 2012
Published ahead of production: Jun 15, 2012
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