Full-Scale Field Testing of Colloidal Silica Grouting for Mitigation of Liquefaction Risk
Publication: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 133, Issue 2
Abstract
This paper reports results of a full-scale field test to assess the performance of dilute colloidal silica stabilizer in reducing the settlement of liquefiable soil. Slow injection methods were used to treat a -thick layer of liquefiable sand. Eight injection wells were installed around the perimeter of the -diameter test area and 8% by weight colloidal silica grout was slowly injected into the upper of a -thick layer of liquefiable sand. A central extraction well was used during grout injection to direct the flow of the colloidal silica towards the center of the test area. Details of the field injection are described. Subsequently, the injection wells were used to install explosive charges and liquefaction was induced by blasting. After blasting, approximately of settlement occurred versus of settlement in a nearby untreated area. The mechanism of improvement is thought to be bonding between the colloidal silica and the individual sand particles; the colloidal silica gel encapsulates the soil structure and maintains it during dynamic loading.
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Acknowledgments
This work was supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation Grant No. NSFCMS-0219987. This support is gratefully acknowledged. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. National Science Foundation. The writers express their appreciation to the British Columbia Ministry of Transportation for allowing them to use the Vancouver test site. Gordon Gibbons of Mud Bay Drilling provided field expertise and moral support during the planning and execution of the grouting operations. Reuben Karol and Richard M. Berry graciously provided extensive grouting advice. Spencer Strand of BYU provided assistance installing instrumentation and surveying. Danny Winters and Mike Stokes of the University of South Florida donated time and the use of their data system for data collection during blasting. ConeTec, Inc. provided reduced rates to perform CPT soundings. These contributions greatly enhanced the success of the project. The writers would also like to thank the reviewers for their valuable comments.
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Information
Published In
Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 133 • Issue 2 • February 2007
Pages: 186 - 196
Copyright
© 2007 ASCE.
History
Received: Feb 2, 2006
Accepted: Jul 18, 2006
Published online: Feb 1, 2007
Published in print: Feb 2007
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