310 Deep Soil Mixing Dry Method

1. Description
DDM is a dry deep mixing method, which means that the additive is a dry powder of
cement, quick lime (CaO), blast furnace slag, fly ash, gypsum, bentonite, etc. or a
combination. To start the reaction process water is needed. The soil need a water content
greater than wN>20% to be able to react with the additive. In soils with less than 20% water
content additional water can be added to the installation process.
DDM is divided into two groups: Column installation and mass stabilisation.
Columns can be installed as single columns or interlocking columns.
Mass stabilisation the total soil volume is mixed.
2. Installation
2.1 Method
Binder is fed from the shuttle to the top of the drilling shaft and blown out by the outlet
hole at the mixing tool by air pressure. Drilling can with LCM:s equipment be carried out
toapproximately 26m depth, however generally drilling length is less than 15m. Rotation
speed of the drilling shaft is in the interval of 100 to 200 rpm, depending on the ground
conditions. Downward movement is manually controlled by the operator and corrected due
to ground conditions and risk of hitting obstacles. Typical downward movement is
100mm/rotation.
During downward movement, the shaft is pressurized by air to prevent water and soil from
entering the drilling shaft. During upward movement binder is fed out by air pressure. The
amount of binder is regulated by feed out valves in the shuttle. The upward movement is
generally 15 to 25mm/rotation, depending on the required mixing work. Out blow of binder
is stopped at 0.5m under ground surface to prevent blowing out in the open air.
2.2 Equipment
One machine unit consists of drilling rig and shuttle carrying the binder tank. The
drilling rig is constructed with wide tracks for low ground
pressure (45 kPa). The rigs are 4 to 5m long and 3.0 to 3.5m wide. The shaft is normally 23
to 27m, but can be extended up to 33m. The shuttles carrying binder has a storage capacity
of 12 ton and are pressurised to 4 to 12 bar. The ground pressure is similar as for the
drilling rig.
The drilling rig is equipped with a mixing tool with a diameter of 500 to 1000mm. Type of
mixing tool depends on the soil condition and application. LCM uses mainly two different
mixing tools: The pinnborr and the V-drill.

2.3 Material
There are a number of additive that frequently are used for DDM. Cement and/or quick
lime is however the base product in all blended mixtures. Secondary products as blast
furnance slag, fly ash, gypsum and bentonite has shown good effects in certain soils. Shear
strength and elasticity module of stabilised soil is connected to the amount of binder.
Generally higher amount of binder increases the shear strength. There is however lower
and upper limitation on the binder content. In soils with organic content >6% and peat with
high water content a low amount of binder have in certain projects shown no stabilising
effect. On the other hand very high binder content in soils with low natural water content
can generates pockets of dry powder due to lack of water
3. Characteristics of the Product
Undrained shear strength of the columns between 50 and 300 kPa only. Modulus 10-100Mpa
4. Application
4.1 Soil and Load

4.2 Typical applications

Shallow road or railroad embankments (<10-12m), light weight buildings, all area loads, slope
stability problems using rows or blocks, solidification of contaminated soil, vibration
reduction, stabilization for sheet pile walls, stabilization for dredge soil.

4.3 Logistics/Organisation
Only thin working platform required for base unit with 30 to 40 t due to wide tracks, height
to maximum 20 m inclination up to 30 possible, even small obstructions make the
application impossible.
4.4 Technical limits of application
Length < 26m
Binder content <300kg/m3
Large stones over 100mm and other obsticles in the ground.
Soil that is hard to mix. Soil cu over 40-50kPa, thin layers is possible to penetrate.
Moister content WN >20%. are necessary in the soil, under or close to this limit is it
possible to add water.
4.5 Risks
Overturn of machines in very soft soils with lack of working platform
Obstacles in soil
Lack of water in the soil
Broken hose = binder in air
5. Monitoring and Control
5.1 Monitoring
LCM registration unit
GPS-System
5.2 Tests

Pull out resistance test, column penetration test or extraction of column (rarely used). SPT
and CPT not recommended.
6. Design
6.1 Design principles
Ultimate Limit State (ULS)
Servicibility Limit State (SLS)
Special Considerations
6.2 Literature
DDM-Handbook (Internal use Keller)
Dry Mix Methods for Deep Soil Stabilization; Proceedings of the International Conference
on dry mix methods for deep soil stabilization, Stockholm, Sweden, 13 - 15 October 1999.
7. Standards
7.1 Execution
EN 14679
7.2 Design
EN 14679
8. Costs
8.1 Equipment
Excavator with drilling rod and mixing tool, silo with control unit mounted on a self-moving
shuttle. Separately big silos, compressor, compressed air pump.
8.2 Staff
1 foreman, 1 driver, 1 helper to operate the silos
8.3 Material
70 to 150 kg binder per m in peat up to 250 kg/m, 18 to 42 kg/lin.m with diameter 60 cm