Pipeline Mixing Method—An Innovative Construction Technology

The objective of this paper is to present an innovative construction technology, developed in Japan, in which dredged material obtained from seabed, lake or navigation channels, is transported and stabilized in a pipeline using compressed air. One major concern in highly developed urban coastal areas is to obtain quality soil for various construction purposes. The need to supply engineered materials for construction purposes, and finding new applications for the dredged materials dumped into the disposal sites are the main reasons for developing this technique. The drawback of most stabilization work is the high cost of manufacturing process and transporting. Accordingly, in the technique presented here the process of manufacturing (i.e., mixing dredging with a stabilizer and other additives) and transportation are carried out in a pipeline using compressed air. The technique aims for effective use of marine resources for various construction purposes in the coastal areas, while reducing the construction cost due to mixing inside a pipeline. Additionally, an assessment of field feasibility of the technique is described along with the characterization of the geomaterial using in situ and conventional laboratory tests. Several application areas of the technology for infrastructure development or rehabilitation in the coastal areas are described. Pipeline mixing is more suited for producing large amount of engineered fill, especially for large-scale projects.