CV6312

Ground Improvement
CV6312 I. Objectives of Soil Improvement

1. To increase strength To increase strength

‹ Increase in undrained shear strength (cu) of
‹ Increase in friction angle (φ′) of granular soil cohesive soil

Granular soil τ Cohesive soil

τ cu2
φ′2
cu1
φ′1
σ σ

☺ Bearing capacity of granular soil that depends on the ☺ Bearing capacity of cohesive soil that depends on the
friction angle will increase. undrained shear strength will increase.
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2. To reduce compressibility To reduce compressiblity

‹ Increase in compression index (Cc, mv) of ‹ Decrease in compressibility of granular soil
cohesive soil

Cc before Before
improvement Δe

void ratio, e
improvement
void ratio, e
Cr
Δp After
1 improvement
Cc
Cr & Cc after
improvement

Pressure p
Pressure p (log)

☺ Settlement of cohesive soil that depends on the ☺ Settlement of granular soil that depends on the
compressibility will decrease with lower Cc. compressibility will decrease with 1/C or mv.
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4. Improve volume stability

3. To control permeability & seepage
‹ Decrease void ratio (e) of granular soil
‹ Reduce volume instability of expansive soil
‹ Increase dry density ( ρd) of cohesive soil
using admixtures – cement, lime etc.
Permeability

Ref: http://www.otecohio.org

Void ratio, e [log]

☺ The new material produced has a higher strength, lower
permeability & compressibility than the native ground, but total unit
weight may be less.
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Field Compaction Control

‹ 1. Direct density & water content determination
SHALLOW SURFACE • Field ρ and w, then ρd = ρ / (1 + w).

COMPACTION 2.00

Dry density (Mg/m3)

ρd,max
ZAV

II. Field Quality Control 1.60

OMC
1.20
5 10 15 20 25
Water content (%)

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Hilf’s Rapid Method Z coefficient

‹ Objective:
‹ to determine relative compaction (Rc) without water Phase diagram at wfield = wf
content determination
Air
‹ Procedure:
• Field (total or wet) density, ρf = M / V of soil W mw = wfms

• Take soil sample to the lab., & compact with, e.g., S

Standard Proctor usually for 3 samples.
ms

• Determine maximum converted density

w = water content after addition of water, wf = original field water content,
• Find relative compaction ms = mass of soil solids, Δm of added water = Additional mass of water
poured in the soil during compaction test (usually 3 points)
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Converted Density Maximum Converted Density (graph)

‹ Converted density of Lab. density ρL ‹ Converted density ρc ~ z curve

Hilf’s method, SP

Converted density (Mg/m3)

2.10

1.80 Max. converted density, ρcm

Standard Proctor Test 1 Test 2 Test 3
Z Z1 (or 0) Z2 Z3
Zm
Lab. density, ρLab= m/V ρLab1 ρLab2 ρLab3 1.50
0 2.5 5
Converted density, ρc ρc1 ρc2 ρc3 Z (%)

Note: If test 1 is conducted at the field water content, wf, then From the graph, for example, ρcm = 1.75 Mg/m3 at Zm = 2%.
according to equation 12, z1 is zero.
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Max. Converted Density (formula) Hilf’s Relative Compaction

‹ Field (wet) Density, ρfield = ρd, field (1 + wf) [12]

ρc
ρcm
For ρcm = 1.75 Mg/m3 and ρfield = 1.6 Mg/m3
Zm Z
wf : field water content Use [20] → Relative compaction, Rc = 1.6 / 1.75 = 91.4%
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Deviation of Field Water Content

‹ Correction factor for OMC

Sketch only
(OMC - wf) ~ Zm + correction (%) [16]
‹III. Effect of Oversize Particles
ρcm from the chart (Hausmann, p.88)

Example:
ρcm = 1.75 Mg/m3 at Zm = +2%.
Correction factor = + 0.4% →
Ref: Haussman
OMC – wfield ~ (2 + 0.4)% = 2.4%
Zm - Zm +

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Percentage of Oversize Particles Dry Density & Water Content

‹ Particle Size Distribution Curves ‹ Soil without oversize particles

20 mm Phase diagram ms=1

Percentage of the soil
retained on the 20 mm Air
p sieve = p *). mw =
V1 W
2 w1(1-p)
Grain size dist.
1- p curve without
Soil (1-p)
1 oversize particles
Percentage of the soil (lab)
passing the 20 mm Grain diameter
sieve = (1 - p)
V1: initial volume, w1: initial water content
ρd1: initial dry density, ms: mass of soil solids, assuming ms= 1
*) Oversize particles: soil retained on ¾ inch sieve (19 mm) or No. 4 sieve (4.75 mm)
mw: mass of water, p: percentage of oversize particles
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Oversize Particle Correction Oversize particle correction (cont.)

‹ Assumption: dry oversize particles, wc = 0% ‹ Dry density & w after correction
‹ Dry density & water content after correction:

Air
w1(1-p)
V2 W

(1-p)
Gsρw S (1-p)
ms = 1
p p
G
Ggρw

Note: Gg: Specific gravity of oversize particles, wc = water Note: ρd(cor) = dry density after oversize particle correction,
content of oversize particle wcor = water content after oversize particle correction
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