Soft Ground 1) In general, the following soil types are considered as soft grounda) Soft clay b) Soil which

have large fractions of particles as fine as silt. c) Clay soil which have high moisture content. d) Peat foundation. e) Sand deposits with a loose state under water table. 2) From a geological view point, weak grounds which are accumulated naturally into alluvial layers in alluvial plains and swamps or man-made shore areas, lakes and marshes are susceptible to formation as soft ground. 3) From mechanical view point, soil deposits which have low shear strength and high compressibility. It should be kept in mind that in order to determine whether the ground is susceptible to be soft ground relies mainly on: a) Types b) Forms c) Scale (It extension in length and width from existing condition) d) Loading e) Significance f) Method and process of construction Ground Improvement Techniques 1) In situ deep compaction of cohesion less soil. a) Blasting b) Vibratory probe c) Vibro-compaction d) Compaction piles 2) Pre-compression a) Pre-loading b) Surcharge fills c) Electro-Osmosis 3) Injection grouting a) Particulate grouting b) Chemical grouting c) Pressure injected line d) Displacement grouting e) Electro kinematic injection f) Jet grouting 4) Injection grouting a) Remove or replace b) Structural fill Mix in place (walls and piles) 5) Thermal a) Heating and freezing 6) Reinforcement a) Vibro replacement (sand/ stone column) b) Root piles/soil nailing
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c) Strip, grid and membranes Evaluation of Ground Improvement Technique It depends on a) Drainage / Dewatering b) Densification/ Solidification c) Cementation d) Reinforcement e) Replacement Fundamental Flow of Selection of Soil Improvement Technique a) For the design of building in construction whether construction work can be done on and/or in the ground as is without any improvement and then the basic design and execution condition are decided. b) For soft ground counter measures are carefully required. c) The suitable for countermeasures application are decided according to various conditions shown in the following flow diagram.

Ground condition

Structural condition

Necessity of countermeasures Ground or soil condition Construction at site condition Economical feasibility Execution condition Yes

No

Execution of structure No Structural supporting methods (piles, retaining walls)

Soil improvement Yes Yes techniques: Selection of improvement a) Improvement effect b) Construction period c) Construction scale d) Workability e) Coast and f) Environmental impact

Figure: Fundamental flow for selection of soil improvement techniques Methods for In-situ Deep Densification of Cohesion less soil Method that are used for in-situ deep densification for cohesion less soil includesa) Blasting b) Vibro-compaction and c) Heavy tamping etc.
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The ability of any this method to accomplish the needed improvement in soil property depends on the following factors: a) Soil type (gradation and fine content) b) Degree of saturation and water table location c) Initial relative density d) Initial in-situ stress e) Initial soil structure (effect of age, cementation etc.) f) Special characteristics of the method used Evaluation of Treated Ground Measurement of the effectiveness of deep compaction can be made using one or more of several methods. Techniques that have been used include: a) Surface settlement markers b) Standard Penetration Test(SPT) c) Cone Penetration Test (CPT) d) Pressure Meter Test (PMT) e) Seismic Shear Wave Velocity Determination f) Pile Driving Resistance g) Pile Load Test h) Down-hole Density Meter Note: Settlement measurements and SPT, CPT and PMT are the most commonly used methods. - CPT is particularly used because it provides continuous records of penetration resistance with depth. - Penetration resistance values both before and after ground improvement are converted to relative densities. Selection of Method The most suitable method of selection depends ona) The purpose to which the treated ground will be used b) The area depth and total volume of soil to treated c) Soil type and initial properties d) Equipment and skills ability e) Local experience f) Time availability g) Cost Application of Basic Concept of Ground Improvement Important objectives Improving properties of soil De DensiSolidiwatering fication fication Mechanical Increasing bearing capacity problem Deformation prevention Earth pressure reduction Slope stability Hydrological Liquidification prevention problem Cut-off Drainage Environmental Environmental prevention problem Waste management
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