“Ground Improvement Techniques”

Abstract: in all over the country in order to enhance the infrastructure of

the country. Infrastructure facilities have to be often built at
sites where the soil conditions are not ideal. The insitu soil
Ground improvement is the most imaginative field of
characteristics of a construction site are different from those
geotechnical engineering. It is a field in which the engineer forces the
desired, and almost always far from ideal for a designed need.
ground to adopt the project's requirements, by altering the natural
With increased urban development, site with favorable
state of the soil, instead of having to alter the design in response to
the ground's natural limitations. The results usually include saving in
foundation conditions became depleted. At times the civil

construction cost and reduction of implementation time. engineer has been forced to construct structures at site
selected for reasons other than soil conditions. Thus it is
There are number of techniques available for improving
increasingly important for the engineer to know the degree to
the mechanical and engineering properties of the soil. However, each
which soil properties may be improved or other alterations
technique has some limitations and suit abilities to get maximum
that can be thought of for construction of an intended structure
improvement in the soil conditions with minimum effort. Some of the
important techniques are discussed in this paper. at stipulated site.
If unsuitable soil conditions are encountered at the
To improve the strength of the soils, especially in case of
site of a proposed structure, one of the following four
granular type of soils, COMPACTION METHODES are found as
procedures may be adopted to insure satisfactory performance
best methods among all type of techniques. Based on the mechanism
of the structure.
applied for compacting the soil, it is sub divided into different
methods like dynamic compaction, blasting, vibro techniques
 By pass the unsuitable soil by means of deep
...etc.These are briefly discussed in this paper.
foundations extending to a suitable bearing material.
When there are some limitations encountered for  Redesign the structure and it's foundation for support
applying the above technique, grouting techniques, stabilization of by the poor soil. This procedure may not be feasible
soil using different admixtures can be adopted effectively which can or economical.
bring variations in the soil conditions. The various types of above
 Remove the poor material and either treats it to
techniques are briefly discussed in this paper.
improve and replace it (or) substitute for it with a
Finally, recent advancements in ground improving
suitable material.
techniques using GEOTEXTILES, ELECTRIC TREATMENT
METHODES are also briefly discussed in this paper. These  Treat the soil in place to improve its properties.
techniques are widely used in these days. Rigid foundations such as piling present a solution
but these are often expensive. In such circumstances, ground
improvement using different techniques offers a proved and
economic solution. At present a variety of soil improvement

1. Introduction: techniques are available for making soil to bear any type of
structure on it and also for mitigation of seismic hazards. The
Large civil engineering projects are being executed
costs of these methods vary widely and the conditions under them with a temporary surcharge fill as shown in figure. This
which they can be used are influenced by nature and method is called precompression, preloading, or surcharging.
proximity of structures and construction facilities. It is especially useful in soft clayey and silty soils because the
static weight of the fill causes them to consolidate, thus
improving both settlement and strength properties. Once the
2. Ground Improvement Techniques:
desired properties have been obtained, the surcharge is
On the basis of mechanism by which they improve the
removed and construction proceeds on improved site.
engineering properties of soil, the most of common of these
can be divided into the following major categories. These are Pre-compression has the following advantages
 It requires only conventional equipment earthmoving
 Densification techniques.
equipment, which is readily available. No special or
 Reinforcement techniques.
proprietary equipment is needed.
 Stabilization techniques.
 Miscellaneous methods  Any grading contractor can perform the work.

Apart from the methods listed above, there are some other  The results can be effectively monitored by
simple methods like removal and replacement of soil. In this
using appropriate instrumentation and ground
paper these are discussed first before taking up above
techniques. level surveys.

2.1. Removal and Replacement of Soil:  The method has a long track record of success.

One of the oldest and simplest soil improvement methods is to  The cost is comparatively low, so long as soil
simply excavate the unsuitable soil and replace them with for preloading is readily available.
compacted fill. This method is often used when the problem
the soil is that it is too loose. In that case, the same soils used However, there also are disadvantages
to build the fill, except now it has a higher unit weight
 The surcharge fill generally must extend
(because of compaction) and thus has been better engineering
properties. This is a common way to remediate problems with horizontally at least 10m beyond the perimeter
collapsible soils. of the planned construction. This may not
Removal also may be available option when the possible for confined sites.
excavated soils have other problems, such as contamination or
 The transport of large quantities of soil onto the
excessive organics, and need to hauled away. This method can
sites may not be practical, or may have
be expensive because of the hauling costs and the need for
unacceptable environmental impacts (i.e., dust,
imported soils to replace those that were excavated. It also can
noise, traffic) on the adjacent areas.
be difficult to find a suitable disposal site for the excavated
 The surcharge must remain in place for months or
soils.
years, thus delay in construction.
Removal and replacement is generally practical only
2.3 Densification Techniques:
above the ground water table. Earthwork operations become
more difficult when the soil is very wet, even when the free The strength and stiffness of the soil is higher when
water pumped out, and thus are generally avoided unless the particles are packed in a dense configuration than they are
absolutely necessary. packed loosely. As a result, densification is one of the most
2.2. Precompression of soil: effective and commonly used means of improving soil
Another old and simple method of improving soils is to cover characteristics. This can be approaches in following ways.
float temporarily and aid in it’s with drawl. The
2.3.1 Vibro Techniques: vibrations produce a localized zone of temporary
liquefaction that causes the soil surrounding the vibro
Vibro techniques use probes that are vibrated through soil float to densify.
deposit in a grid pattern to densify the soil over the entire area  Vibro flotation is most effective in clear
of thickness of the deposit. These are classified in to the
granular soils with the fine contents less than
following methods. These are
20% and clay contents below 3%.
 Vibro flotation has been used successfully to
2.3.1.1. Vibro Compaction:
density soils to deep [this of up to 115 ft.]

Vibro compaction is a method for compacting deep

granular soils by repeatedly inserting a vibratory probe. It
is also known as VIBRO DENSIFICATION. 3.3.2. Dynamic Compaction:

By inserting depth vibrators, the vibrations are

Dynamic compaction is a ground improvement process for
produced by rotating a heavy eccentric weight with the help of
compacting and strengthening loose or soft soils to support
an electrical motor within the vibrator. The vibratory energy is
buildings, roadways, and other heavy construction. The
used to rearrange the granular particles in a denser state.
method involves the systematic dropping of heavy weights,
Penetration of the vibro probe is typically aided by water
100 to 400kN, from a height of 5 to 30m, in a pattern designed
jetting at the tip of the probe.
to remedy poor soil conditions at the proposed building site.
Some of advantages and disadvantages of this method are
In soft ground areas, dynamic compaction has proved to be an
given below.
effective and economical alternative to preloading, foundation
piling, deep vibratory compaction, and soil undercutting and
 It is often an economical alternative to deep
replacement
foundations, especially when considering the added
liquefaction protection in seismic areas. Dynamic Compaction is normally used under the following
 It is most effective in granular soils circumstances:
 It cannot be used in cohesive soils
 To increase in-situ density and in this way improve
the bearing capacity and consolidation characteristics
2.3.1.2. Vibro Flotation: of soils (or waste materials) to allow conventional
foundation and surface bed construction to be carried
In vibro flotation a torpedo like probe (the vibro float)
suspended by a crane is used to density a soil deposit. out. The technique typically improves the in-situ
Vibro floats usually 12 to 18 inch in diameter and soils such that allowable bearing pressures of up to
about10 to 16 ft long, contain weights mounted
250 Kpa can be used with foundation settlements of
eccentrically on a central shaft driven by electric or
hydraulic power. the order of 10 to 20 mm.

The vibro float is initially lowered to the bottom of the  To increase in-situ density and in this way improve
deposit by a combination of vibration and water or air in-situ permeability and/or reduce liquefaction
jetting through ports in its pointed nose cone. The vibro
float is then incrementally with drawn in 2 to 3 ft potential
intervals at an overall rate of about 1ft / min while still
vibrating. Water may be jetted through ports in the upper
part of the vibro float to loosen the soil above the vibro
What soils are suitable? mass occupies void space created by pressure-densification.
Most soil types can be improved, including silts and Pump pressure transmitted through low mobility grout,
some clays. The most commonly treated soils are old fills and produces compaction by displacing soil at depth until resisted
granular virgin soils. Soils below the water table are routinely by the weight of over lying soils.
treated. However, careful control has to be used to allow
dissipation of excess pore pressures created during the weight  Fine grained soils with sufficient permeability to
dropping. allow excess water to dissipate best suits for
compaction grouting.
2.3. 3. Blasting:
 It has also been used successfully in a wide variety of
Blasting densification involves the detonation of soils and fills.
multiple explosive charges vertically spaced at 10 to 20 ft
apart in drilled or jetted bore holes. The bore holes are usually 2.4. Reinforcement Techniques:
spaced between 15 to 50 ft apart and back filled prior to
In some cases it is possible to improve the strength
detonation. The efficiency of densification process can be
and stiffness of an existing soil deposit by installing discrete
increased by detonating the charges at different elevations at
inclusions that reinforce the soil. These inclusions may consist
small time delays. Immediately after detonation, the ground
of structural materials, such as steel, concrete or timber and
surface rises & gas & water are expelled from fractures. The
geomaterials such as densified gravel.
ground surface then settles as the excess gas & water pressure
dissipates. Two or three rounds of blasting are often used to
2.4.1. Stone Columns:
achieve the desired degree of densification.

Soils deposits can be improved by the installation of

 Blasting is most effective in loose sands that contain
dense columns of gravel known as stone columns. They may
less than 20% silt and less than 5% clay.
be used in both fine and coarse grained soils. In fine-grained
soils, stone columns are used to increase the shear strength
 Although blasting is quite economical, it is limited by
beneath structures and embankments by accelerating
several considerations, as it produces strong
consolidation (by allowing radial drainage) and introducing
vibrations that may damage nearby structures or
columns of stronger material.
produce significant ground movements.

Stone columns can be installed in a variety of ways.

2.3.4. Compaction Grouting:
(They may be constructed by introducing gravel during the

Compaction grouting uses displacement to process of vibroflotation) In the Frankie method, a steel casing

improve ground conditions. A very viscous (low mobility) initially closed at the bottom by a gravel plug is driven to the

aggregate is pumped in stages, forming grout bulbs, which desired depth by an internal hammer. At that depth part of the

displace and densify the surrounding soils. plug is driven beyond the bottom of the casing to form a bulb
of gravel. Additional gravel is then added and compacted as
A consistency soil cement paste is injected the casing is withdrawn. The diameter of the resulting stone
under pressure in to the soil mass, consolidating, and there by column depends on the stiffness and compressibility of the
densifying surrounding soils in place. The injected ground surrounded soil.
2.4.2. Compaction Piles: that the particle structure of the majority of the soil remains
intact.
Granular soils can be improved by the installation of
compaction piles. Compaction piles are displacement piles, Mixing techniques introduce cementitious materials by
usually prestressed concrete or timber, which are driven into a physically mixing them with the soil, completely disturbing
loose sand or gravel deposit in a grid pattern and left there. the particle structure of the soil. Grouting and mixing
techniques tend to be expensive but can often be
Compaction piles improve the seismic performance accomplished with minimal settlement or vibration.
of a soil by three different mechanisms. First the flexural
strength of piles themselves provides resistance to soil 2.5.1. Permeation Grouting:
movement (reinforcement). Second, the vibrations and
displacements produced by their installation cause Permeation grouting involves the injection of low

densification. Finally, the installation process increases the viscosity liquid grout into the voids of the soil without

lateral stress in the soil surrounding the piles. disturbing the soil structure. Particulate grouts (i.e., aqueous
suspensions of cement, fly ash, bentonite, micro fine cement
Compaction piles generally densify the soil with in a or some combination thereof) or chemical grouts (e.g., silica
distance of 7 to 12 pile diameters and consequently are usually & lignin gels, or phenolic & acrylic resins) may be used.
installed in a grid pattern. Between compaction piles a relative
density of up to 75% to 80% are usually achieved. Grout pipes are typically installed in a grid pattern at

Improvement can be obtained with reasonable economy to spacing of 4 to 8 feet. The grout may be injected in different

depth of about 60ft. ways. In ‘stage grouting’, a boring is advanced a short

distance before grout is injected through the end of the drill
2.4.3 Drilled Inclusions: rod. After the grout sets up, the boring is advanced another
short distance and grouted again. This process continues until
Structural reinforcing elements can also be installed grout has been placed to the desired depth.
in the ground by drilling or auguring. Drilled shafts,
sometimes with very large diameters, have been used to Permeation grouting produces soil improvement by
stabilize many slopes. two mechanisms. First the grout tends to strengthen the
contacts between individual soil grains, there by producing a
Soil nails, tie backs, micro piles have been used for soil skeleton that is stronger and stiffer than that of the un
this purpose. The installation of such drilled inclusions can be grouted soil. Second, the grout takes up space in the voids
quite difficult. However in the loose granular soils that between soil particles, reducing the tendency for densification.
contribute to increase the strength of the soil in every effective
manner.  Stopping leaks in below-grade structures

 Stopping leaks in below-grade utilities

2.5 Grouting and Mixing Techniques:
 Excavating support of non-corrosive soils

Grouting techniques involve of cementitious  Strengthening of soil mass to accept new loads
materials into voids of the soil or into fractures in the soil so
2.5.2. Jet Grouting: stabilization to

In Jet grouting the soil is mixed with cement grout injected  Reduce the permeability of the soil.

horizontally under high pressure in a previously drilled bore  Improve shear strength.
hole.  Increase bearing strength.
 Decrease settlement.
Jet grouting uses a special pipe equipped with Soil and chemicals are mixed either mechanically in
horizontal jets that inject grout into the soil at high pressure. place or by bath process .the optimum benefit of using these
The pipes are first inserted to the desired depth, and then they agents in stabilization must be determined by laboratory
are raised and rotated while the injection is in progress, thus testing. The general principles of these admixtures as
forming a column of treated soil. stabilizers are discussed below.

 Because of high pressure, this method is usable on a wide

range of soil types.
2.6.2.1. Lime Stabilization:

This is done by adding lime to soil. It is useful for

stabilization of clayed soils. When lime reacts with soil, there
2.6. Stabilizations Using Admixtures:
is exchange of cations in the adsorbed water layer and a
Soil Stabilization: It is the process of improving the decrease in plasticity of soil occurs .The resulting material is
engineering properties of soil by mixing some binding agents more friable than the original clay and is therefore more
thus binding the soil particles .In a broader sense it also suitable as sub grade.
includes compaction, pre consolidation and many more such
This method is not effective for sandy soils. However these
process. Soil stabilization is classified as
soils can be stabilized in combination with clay, fly ash or
other pozzolanic materials, which serve hydraulically reactive
 Mechanical stabilization
in gradients.
 Chemical stabilization

2.6.2.2. Cement Stabilization:

2.6.1. Mechanical Stabilization:
Cement stabilization is done by mixing pulverized soil and
Mechanical stabilization is the process of improving the
Portland cement with water and compacting the mix to attain a
properties of soil by changing its gradation. Two (or) more
strong material .The material obtained by mixing soil and
types of natural soils mixed to obtain composite which is
cement is known as soil cement .The mix becomes hard and
suspension to any of its components
durable structural material as the cement hydrates and
develops strength.

2.6.2. Chemical Stabilization: The soil cement is quite weather resistant and strong. It is
commonly used for stabilizing sandy and other low plasticity
Chemical stabilization is the form of lime, cement, fly ash soils. Cement interacts with the silt and clay fractions and
reduced their affinity for water .It reduces the swelling
and the combination of the above is widely used in soil
characteristics of the soil.
are a good in tensile strength.

2.6.2.3. Fly Ash Stabilization: 2.8. Electro Osmosis and Electro Chemical Hardening
Method:
Fly ash is a byproduct of the pulverized coal combustion
process. Fly ash has silica, alumina and various oxides and The electroosmasis process can be used to increase the shear
alkalis as its constituents .It is fine grained and pozzolanic in strength and reduce the compressibility of soft clayey and silty
nature. Fly ash reacts actively with hydrated lime and hence is soils beneath foundation. By introducing an electrolyte such
used in combination with lime as a stabilizer. A mixture of as calcium chloride at the anode, the Base Exchange reaction
about 10 to 35 % of fly ash and 2 to 10 % of lime forms as between the iron anode and surrounding soil is increased,
effective stabilizer for stabilization of highway bases and sub resulting in the formation of ferric hydroxides which bind the
bases .Soil-lime-fly ash mixes are compacted under controlled soil particles together. However because cost of electric power
condition with adequate quantity of water. and wastage of electrodes, electroosmasis with or without
electrochemical hardening can be considered only for special
situations where the alternative of piling cannot be adopted.

2.7. Geotextiles:

Soil conditions can be improved in an excellent manner by

using geo textiles. Geotextiles are porous fabrics
manufactured products and others such as polyester,
polyethylene, polypropylene and polyvinylchloride, nylon,
fiber glass and various mixtures of these. These are having
permeabilities comparable in range from coarse gravel to fine
sand. Geotextiles have been used in a variety of civil
engineering works. Thus in the selection of a proper
geotextile, due importance has to be given to the major
function that the geotextile is intended to perform. These are
majorly used as follows.

1. They acts as separators between two layers of soils

having a large difference in particle size to prevent
migration of small size particles into the voids of
large size particles

2. They act as filter. When the silt laden turbid water

passes through the geotextile, the silt particles are
prevented from movement by the geotextile.
3. Geotextiles themselves function as a drain because 3. Conclusion:
they have a high water transporting capacity than that
of the surrounding material. 1. Unfavorable soil conditions can frequently be

4. They serve as REINFOREMENT in soil since they improved using soil improvement techniques. A
variety of soil improvement techniques have been
developed. However a suitable technique has to be
adopting according to necessity of the structure and
economy.

2. Mainly soil improvement techniques can be divided

in to four broad categories; Densification technique,
Reinforcement technique, grouting or mixing
technique and stabilization technique.

3. Densification is probably the most commonly used

soil improvement technique. Most densification
techniques relay on tendency of granular soils to
densify when subjected to vibrations. However there
is a possibility of damaging adjacent structures and
pipelines due to application of this technique.

4. Reinforcement techniques introduce discrete inclusions

that stiffen and strengthen a soil deposit. The high
stiffness and strength of the inclusions also tend to
reduce the stresses imposed on the weaker material
between the inclusions.

5. Grouting techniques involve the injection of cementitious

materials into the voids of the soil or into fractures of
the soil, so that the particle structure of the majority
of soil remains inject. In permeation grouting, very
low viscosity grouts are injected into the voids of the
soil without disturbing the soil structure. In intrusion
grouting, thicker and more viscous grouts are
injected under pressure to cause controlled fracturing
of the soil.

6. Now a day, geotextiles are extensively used for

improving the soil conditions.