GROUND IMPROVEMENT TECHNIQUES

FOR HIGHWAYS

Submitted to
Prof .D.K Bansal
Submitted by
1

Saurav Thakur
 INTRODUCTION
 Transportation - needed for the development o
f the country.
 The main mode of transportation is by road or
highways.
 In the process of road development, the alignm
ent of road may have to be fixed through the s
oils which may not bear the traffic loads .
 There are various techniques of ground improv
ement.
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METHODS FOR GROUND IMPROVEMENT

1. Soil stabilization
2. Vertical drains
3. Stabilization trenches
4. Capillary cut-off
5. Soil nailing
6. Stone columns
7. Vibro compaction
8. Dynamic compaction

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SOIL STABILIZATION
 Improvement of stability or bearing capacity of soil by use of
controlled compaction or by the addition of suitable admixtu
res or stabilizers .

 There are various methods of soil stabilization .

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 The methods of soil stabilizati
on are:
1. Mechanical Stabilization
2. Soil-cement Stabilization
3. Soil-lime Stabilization
4. Soil-bitumen Stabilization
5. Chemical Stabilization
6. Electrical Stabilization
7. Stabilization by grouting
8. Stabilization by geo textile and fabrics
9. Reinforced earth 5
Mechanical Stabilization
 Process of improving the properties of soil by changing its gra
dation.
 Two or more natural soils are mixed to obtain a composite m
aterial.

Cement Stabilization
 Done by mixing soil and cement with water and compacti
ng the mix to attain a strong material.

Lime Stabilization
 Lime stabilization is done by adding lime (2%-10%) to soil.

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Bituminous Stabilization
 Bituminous stabilization provide water proofing and binding.

Chemical Stabilization
 Stabilization by adding different chemicals.

Electrical Stabilization
 Done by a process known as electro-osmosis.

Stabilization by Grouting
 In this method grouting is done under pressure the stabilizers
with high viscosity are suitable only for soils with high perme
ability.

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Stabilization by Geotextiles and Fabrics
 Geo textile which have very high tensile strength can be used
as reinforcement for strengthening soil.

Reinforced Earth
 Soil can be stabilized by introducing thin strips in to it .

Stabilization using Bio-Enzymes

 Bio-enzyme stabilization is a newer technique for strengtheni
ng of sub grade soil.
 Terra Zyme is one of the largely used bioenzymes.

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VERTICAL DRAINS

 Act as free draining water channel. surrounded by a thi

n filter jacket which prevents the surrounding soil from
entering the core.
 A vertical sand drain accelerates the rate of consolidati
on.
 Installation of vertical sand drains is a convenient techn
ique for stabilization of soft and compressible soil .
 There are two types of vertical drains - sand drains and
sand wicks.

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Fig : vertical drains

Sand drains
 Typically 200-500 mm in dia.

 Formed by infilling sand in to a hole in the ground.

 Hole formed by driving ,jetting or augering.

 Typical spacing 1.5 - 6.0 .

Sand wicks
 Sand wicks are improved technique of sand drains.

 A small diameter hole is made by driving mandrel or by borin

g.
 Then cylindrical bag with sand is lowered into this.

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STABILIZING TRENCHES

 Excavation which has a blanket of filter material between 0.5

m and 1.00 m thick against its upstream slope and at the bott
om of system for collecting and eliminating water.

 Improves the stability of embankment by providing drainage

and replacing weaker material with better material .

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Fig : Stabilizing trench
 CAPILLARY CUT-OFF
 In some cases capillary water accumulates and saturates the
subsurface layers which results in failures.

 To arrest this capillary rise, capillary cut-off has to be provide

d.

 Capillary cutoff is of two types.

1. Permeable Capillary Cut-off
2. Impermeable Capillary Cut-off

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Permeable Capillary Cut-off
A layer of granular material is provided which
has a thickness higher than the capillary rise so tha
t water cannot rise above the cut-off layer

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Fig:-Cross-Section of pavement showing

Permeable capillary cut-off
Impermeable Capillary Cut-off
An impermeable capillary cut-off is prepared by inserting bit
uminous layer in place of permeable blanket.

Fig: Cross-Section of pavement showing

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impermeable capillary cut-off
SOIL NAILING
 Earth retention structure that combines reinforcements and s
hortcrete to support excavations , hillside , embankment stee
ping etc…

 The nails must have bending stress. The tension developed in

nails provides resisting forces which stabilize the soil mass.

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Fig: Soil nail

STONE COLUMNS
 Done to provide adequate support for relatively light foundat
ion.
 The method consists of forming vertical holes in ground whic
h are filled with compacted crushed stone, gravel and sand or
a mixture.

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Fig : stone columns

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VIBRO COMPACTION
 For loose sand deposits, the density index can be increased b
y vibro compaction.

 This process employs a depth vibrator suspended from crane

 Compaction of sand can be achieved up to distance of 2.5m fr

om axis of vibrator.

 Compaction can be carried out to significant depths up to 12

m.

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Fig : vibro-compaction
DYNAMIC COMPACTION
 This involves in increasing the density of soil near the s
urface by tamping.

 Density improvement up to 10m is feasible.

 This method consists of dropping heavy mass of 8 to 40

tonnes known as pounder on the surface from a height
5 to 30m

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Fig :Dynamic compaction
Equipment

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 CONCLUSIONS
While constructing highways different ground condition
s are encountered. Considering all factors a suitable ground i
mprovement technique has to be done. Ground improvemen
t techniques have been extensively used by developed countr
ies.
 Lime stabilization is suitable for expansive soil like black cott
on soils.
 In bitumen stabilization optimum content of bitumen vanes f
rom 4 to 6 % soil.
 Electrical and Chemical stabilization are expensive compared
to others.
 Stabilization by grouting is suitable only for soils with high pe
rmeability.
 Stabilization by Terra Zyme is most effective for fine grained s
oil.
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 Provision of capillary cut-off is effective for expansive s
oils.
 For soft and compressible soils provision of sand drains
and sand wicks are found to be effective.
 Dynamic compaction is found suitable for soft, loose co
hesionless soil layers..
 Stone column has also been found useful for soft soils.

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REFERENCES
 Sanjay Kr Singh & Par-deep Kr Gupta, (2002), "Critic
al review of ground improvement techniques for hig
hways ", Volume 30, No: 8, Indian Highways, New D
elhi, pp. 5-13.
 Gaul-kar M.P, (1999), "Construction of roads III blac
k cotton soils", Volume 27, No: 3, Indian Highways,
New Delhi, pp. 37-43.
 Sharma . S.C, (1994), "Ground Improvement Techniq
ues", Vol. 22, No: 12, Indian Highways, New Delhi, p
p. 3-4.
 (1994), "Application of Geo-grids in Highway Engine
ering", Special report: 12, Indian Road Congress, Ne
w Delhi, pp. 59-61.

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