Soil Improvement Methods 7.

1 General When carrying out soil improvement as a countermeasure against possible failures of soft ground, an appropriate method shall be selected in view of the characteristics of foundatio n subsoil, type and scale of structure, ease and period of construction, economic factors, influence on the e nvironment, and others. 7.2 Replacement Method Design for replacement method shall be conducted by considering stability agains t circular slip failure, settlement of subsoil, and workability of replacement. [Commentary] Replacement methods are classified into the removal and replacement method, and the forced displacement method. The latter includes the forced displacements by self weight of embankment, by bl asting, and by the sand compaction pile method1). [Technical Notes] This section deals with the removal and replacement method, which is commonly us ed in marine construction works. (1) Stability Analysis Stability calculation method and safety factors for cilcular arc analysis are de scribed in Chapter 6 Stability of Slopes. To calculate earth pressure on sheet piles or anchorage inside the replaced area , an analysis incorporating a compounded slip surface should be made in addition to conventional earth pressur e calculation. When the whole soft layer is replaced but the bearing stratum underlying the replaced area is i nclined, the stability against a compounded slip failure including the slip failure along the bearing plane shoul d be examined. (2) Examination of Settlement When cohesive soil is left beneath the replaced sandy soil (in cases of partial replacement or slope excavation), the consolidation settlement may be expected, and thus its influence on a struct ure should be examined. (3) Replaced Sand and Angle of Internal Friction The angle of internal friction of replaced sand can usually be assumed to be aro und 30 degrees. However, its value depends on the particle size, size distribution, execution procedure and s equence of replacement, elapsing time, surcharge and others. Attention must be paid to the condition of the repla ced sand, because it is sometimes very loose. (4) Examination of Liquefaction Liquefaction should be assessed based on the particle size distribution and the N-values of the replaced sand. When being difficult to evaluate, the liquefaction should be examined by cyclic triaxial test (see Part ?, Chapter 13 Liquefaction). When liguefaction is the governing facter in design, i t should be considered from the stage of selecting the replaced material. If a sufficient strength in terms of the N-value cannot be obtained, the replaced sand should be compacted. (5) The replaced sand should have an appropriate particle size distribution with low content of silt and clay. Usually the fines content is kept to be less than 15%. (6) The N-values of the replaced sand are affected by its particle size and size

distribution, execution procedure and sequence of replacement, elapsing time, surcharge and others. According to some case histories, the N-values of the replaced sand were around 10 when instantaneously dumped in large volume fro m large-capacity hopper barges with bottom doors, around 5 when discharged with grab buckets from sand c arriers, and even smaller values when spreaded by pump dredger. Some case histories show that the N-values of the loose replaced sand increased with the application of surcharge and the elapsing time (after dischar ging the replaced sand, after rubble deposition, after placing caisson and others).