Geotechnics for Sustainable Infrastructure Development - Geotec Hanoi 2016, Phung (edt).

ISBN 978-604-82-1821-8

Geotechnical aspects of construction and ground improvement for

the Hanoi-Hai Phong Expressway

Le Thu Hanh
FECON, Hanoi, Vietnam, hanhlt@fecon.com.vn
Yukio Ikegami
VJEC, Tokyo, Japan, ikeviethh@yahoo.co.jp

Keywords: ground improvement, settlement, stable-slope, Tominaga-Hashimoto method, Matsuo-

Kawamure method.

ABSTRACT: The Ha Noi – Hai Phong Expressway Project is the first high speed line in the country with
overall length of 105.5 km. It was construction on the very soft to soft soil with thickness up to 42m and
various soil improvements were applied such as PVD, preloading, Sand Drain and Sand Compaction Pile.
This paper presents geotechnical aspects of construction and ground improvement for the Hanoi Hai
Phong expressway. Back analysis was performed with mornitoring data right in the first stage of
embankment fill to evaluate and adjust the next filling scheme with the aim of ensuring the designed
finished grade. Also Tominaga-Hashimoto and Matsuo-Kawamure method were successfully applied for
safely filling at high rate reached up to 26 mm/day latteral movement and 44 mm/day settlement for high
embankment on very soft clayey soil.

Preloading (PL), prefabricated vertical drain

1. INTRODUCTION (PVD), Sand Drain (SD) and Sand Compaction
Pile (SCP) methods.
The Ha Noi – HaiPhong Expressway Project is
the first high speed line in the country with
overall length of 105.5 km with 10 packages
from EX1 to EX10, starting from Hanoi Ring
Road III intersection, passing through Hung Yen,
Hai Duong provinces, to the Dinh Vu seaport in
Hai Phong (figure 1).
It has 6 lanes, 2 emergency stops lanes, 7
interchanges, 17 large bridges, 24 medium
bridges, 22 flyovers (the total length of the
bridges is about 14km). The average width of the
cross section is 100m. The height of the
embankment at bridge approachment are in the
ranges of 6-11,5m and height of the embankment Figure 1. Project location
are in the range of 3-5.5m Package EX6 and EX7 from Km 63+300 to Km
Soil improvement works had been considered 81+300 is located on the most problematic area
due to the very soft to soft clay of the upper soil for with the soft soil thickness up to 40m. During
reducing post construction settlements and for construction period, some issue had arisen which
ensuring ground stability. The ground
required proper considerations, and namely:
improvement works performed included

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 The actual large settlement exceeded the thickness 2.7m -19m. The layer consists of dark
predicted value and would affect the final grey to greenish grey and brownish grey,
elevation of the road. medium stiff clay (CH, CL, and MH). Cone
 The consolidation time would be lengthened resistance CPT value is higher than the upper
due to unforeseen soil condition such as the site layer of 0.3 MPa – 4.4 MPa, undrained shear
coefficient of consolidation is smaller than the strength from FVST is 41 kPa- 43 kPa with an
testing value; average value of 42 kPa. Lenses of dark grey,
 How to obtaining the value which close to the brownish yellow, medium dense clayey sand
real final settlement to decide time for surcharge present at some location with top layer elevation
removal in range of El.9m to El. -16.7m with the SPT
 The monitored of settlement rate was large and value N in range of 7-17.
much exceeded the project limit. This affected  Stiff to very stiff lean Clay (denoted as Layer
the loading speed with decision of postpone or 2c): A layer of yellowish brown, greyish brown
continue loading. and greyish white, stiff to very stiff silty clay
This paper shows the approach to predict the and clay (CH, MH, ML) is found below the
actual primary settlement based on the daily medium stiff clay layer and downward to e El. -
monitoring data which is used to adjust the 36m. The thickness of this layer is not well
necessary thickness of filling and filling schedule defined yet as the boreholes are ended in this
for ensuring the designed road elevation and layer. Cone resistance CPT is in the range of 0.6
general construction schedule. The method which to 6.6 MPa; the SPT value N is in the range of
successfully applied to ensure slope stability during 9-27.
embankment filling with high rate of soil
movement is also presented. Table 1 Soil Properties of Package EX7
2a: 2b: 2c:
2. SOIL CONDITION Very soft Mediu Stiff to
Properties
Based on the soil investigation, the subsoil down to to soft m stiff very stiff
Clay Clay lean Clay
40m depth of package EX7 is plotted in Fig. 2 and
CH,
Table 1 consists of the following main layers Soil classification CH, CL CL, CH, MH,
 Filling soil and cultivated soil: this layer is ML, MH MH ML
found from the ground surface El. +0.5m with Thickness (m) 2-12 2.7-19
thickness of 0.4m-2.3m N -SPT 7-17 9-27
 Very Soft to soft Clay (denoted as Layer 2a): a W (%) 51.95 48.1 30.49
layer of soft to very soft, dark grey, lean clay
w(g/cm )3 1.68 1.71 1.91
and fat clay, silty clay (CH, CL ML, and MH).
The natural water content is high with moderate G (g/cm )3
2.68 2.69 2.69
plasticity and high compressibility. This layer WL (%) 55.04 56.53 43.22
distributes under the filling soil downward to WP (%) 18.34 27.11 23.31
elevation El. -10m to El. -26m with thickness in IP (%) 26.69 29.42 19.92
a range of 10 to 23m. The cone resistance from ( ) o o
6 41’ o
9 05’ 14o55’
CPT varies from 0.4 MPa -0.88 MPa and DST
C (kG/cm2) 0.083 0.122 0.206
undrained shear strength from VST is in the o o
o
( ) 14 48’ 14 56’
range of 7.8 kPa - 47 kPa and the average value 2
C (kG/cm ) 0.121 0.12
of 25.4 kPa. Some lenses of dark grey, yellow CU o
loose to medium dense clayey sand and silty (' )o 40 03’ 23o03’
sand (SC-SM) are found within this layer at C’ (kG/cm2) 0.102 0.098
some locations with the thickness 2m-12m at UU C (kG/cm2) 0.179 0.253
elevation El. -4.8m. The cone resistance CPT kv1-2x10-7
0.55 1.05
varies from 0.720 MPa - 4.2 MPa. (cm/s)
 Medium Stiff Clay (denoted as Layer 2b): This Cv(1-2) x10-3
1.17 0.55
Oedo (cm2/s)
layer distributes along the project alignment
Cc 0.47 0.44
underlying the very soft to soft clay down to the
elevation El. -15m to El. -39m with the Pc (kG/cm2) 0.71 0.96

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 Coeffici ent of  Coefficient of 
Water  Compression  permeabi lity
Total uni t weight consolidati on
content Pl astic Index Cu from UU index
t (ton/m3 ) W n (% PI (% Cu ( kPa) Cc -3 2
C v (10 cm /s ) Kv (10 -7 cm /s)
1.4 1.6 1.8 2.0 0 20 40 60 80 0 20 40 60 80 0 20 40 60 0.0 0.4 0.8 0.0 0.4 0.8 0.0 0.4 0.8
0

Very soft to soft clay
5

10

15
Depth (m)

20
Medium stiff clay

25

30
Stiff clay

35

40
(P=1.0 ‐ 2.0kG/cm2)

Figure 2. Typical soil properties of the package EX7

 PVDs, SDs and SCPs were installed down to
3. GROUND IMPROVMENT designed depth in square patterns.
3.1 Design criteria  Reinforcement Geotextile (200kN/m) if used
were placed upward with the height distance
The main design criteria applied to the ground between layers is 30cm.
improvement works of this project are listed
Table 2 Ground improvement method
below:
Method Applicable conditions and application
 Settlement and consolidation: residual
settlement (Sr) is less than 10 cm for approach PL Soft soil thickness is <5m
section, 20cm for others section including PVD Soft soil thickness is not limited. No sand
culvert and under passing section. seam or stiff clay lenses in soft clay.
 Consolidation degree, which is the ratio of the Embankment height is <6m. PVD square
current settlement to the ultimate primary pattern @0.8m -@1.8m with depth 10m up
consolidation settlement, is not less than 90% to 35m; Embankment load with 1 to 2
for the VD improvement section. stages.
 Stability against sliding: factor of safety is not SD Treatment depth <30m. There sand seam
less than 1.2 in period of filling and waiting for or stiff clay lenses in soft clay.
consolidation and not less than 1.4 at the end of
Embankment height between 6m-7m
the final period of waiting of consolidation.
To control the stability during embankment SD d400 square pattern @1.5m-@2.4m
filling, the loading shall be postponed in the with depth 18m up to 30m; Embankment
following conditions: load with 1 to 2 stages
 Settlement rate is more than 10 mm/day, and/or SCP Apply for the approach sections and
 Horizontal movement is more than 5mm/day abutment. Embankment height > 7m.
 Ground improvement methods
SCP d700 square pattern @1.0m -@1.5m
 The vertical drain (PVD, SD) is mainly applied with depth 18m up to 32m. Embankment
to the embankment section and the Sand load with 1 to 2 stages.
Compaction Pile (SCP) is applied at the
approachment and the abutment section with the
major components as follows:
 Separation Geotextile filter fabric: two layers of Emb

geotextile (12 kN/m) were laid to isolate the

sand blanket from any contamination.
 Sand blanket and SD and SCP: Particle VD Soft/medium

<0.08mm with low content (<3%) and particle

>0.25mm with high content (>50%).
Figure 1. Typical vertical drain (PVD/SD/SCP) section

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3.2 Instruments and monitoring  Comparing the two curves and adjusting design
To verify the performance and to control the parameters such as Cc and/or Cv to obtain the
construction work, monitoring instruments were new curve matched well with the measured
installed at every 100m interval cross-sections, settlement curve.
which included.  Final consolidation settlement is predicted based
 Surface settlement plates were installed at the on the early measured settlement data, used
centre and at the two crests of embankment, Hyperbolic/Asaoka method. Settlement data
monitoring vertical settlement of the original beyond 60% consolidation stage are needed.
ground. This is the most important set of At station Km81+200, where the design
monitoring data to evaluate the final settlement embankment is 6.5m height, the sub ground
and degree of consolidation. consists 20m of very soft to soft clay Layer-2a, and
 Alignment stakes were installed at two sides of 14m medium stiff clay Layer 2b. The soft ground
the embankment with 2-m spacing interval to was treated up to 34m depth (bottom of Layer 2b)
with PVD, installed in square patterns spacing of
check the horizontal movement to control the
0.9m. 3 layers of reinforcement geotextile was
stability during embankment filling.
applied and the construction was divided in two
 Piezometers were installed at some cross-
stages of construction. The estimated settlement is
section, where there are high embankment. The
2499mm.
electrical piezometer were being installed in the
Back analysis with monitoring data was done.
clay layers.
Using the adjusted soil properties Cc, Cv and Ch,
 Inclinometer: installed at critical locations such
back analysis settlement is 3,078 mm (Table 3).
as bridge approachment and high embankment.
Final settlement obtains from measured data
The ratios of maximum lateral movement and using Asaoka method and Hyperbolic method are
vertical settlement were used to evaluate the presented in Figure 4a, 4b and Figure 5a, 5b.
stability during the embankment filling.
 Observation well: installed in the sand blanket Table 3 Estimated settlement from different
of the vertical drainage system to ensure that methods at station Km81+200
water was properly drained. Final Construct Residual
set. ion set. set. U
4. EVALUATE AND ADJUSTING FILLING Method
Sf St=1018days Sr (%)
SCHEME BY BACK ANALYSIS (mm) (mm) (mm)
In the detail design period, soil improvement Detail
2499
method, and the scheme of filling were proposed design
according to typical soil properties, soil profile Feed back 3078 2989 89 97
obtaining from soil investigation, which had been
Asaoka 2964 2958 6 99.8
carried out along the alignment with 100-m
interval. Soil properties are highly variable and the Hyperbolic 3068 2958 110 96.4
settlement prediction can be quite varied and
inaccurate when compared to the actual observed
settlement in the field. As consequence the final
elevation of the road could not be achieved as
designed.
To avoid this, feedback analysis was done right
in the first construction stage with monitoring data
then filling scheme as well as embankment
thickness was adjusted in case necessary. More
precise final settlement and consolidation time
could be calculated through the feedback analysis.
The procedure was:
 Obtaining the settlement curve with original
design parameter and actual site construction
speed and period.
 Obtaining the settlement with measured data. Figure 4a. Graphical method of Asaoka

646

Figure 4b. Final settlement- Asaoka method at Km
81+200
t
=α+β
St -So
θ
o
β=tanθ
t/S t-S
Time
Figure 5a. Graphical of Hyperbolic method
Figure 5b. Final settlement -Hyperbolic method
Km81+200
Figure 6 shows feedback analysis settlement at
station Km81+200, where final settlement is 3,078
mm. The back analysis settlement curve shows
good agreement with the measured data.
The final settlement estimated from measured
data using Asaoka method and Hyperbolic method
gives the final settlement values quite similar to
those found by the feedback analysis.
To ensure the criteria on residual settlement, the
rate of settlement per month was recommended to
be considered. The recommended settlement rate in
the last two months before surcharge removal was
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less than 10mm/month and normal applicable in a
range of 4mm -8mm/month.
Figure 6. Settlement vs embankment thickness at
Km81+200
Figure 7. Rate of settlement – Km81+200
5. STABILITY CONTROL DURING
EMBANKMENT FILLING
According to the project requirements, to control
the stability during the embankment filling, the
following conditions need to be complied:
 The filling rate was not exceeded 10cm/day
 The loading should be postponed and waited at
least 01 week where:
 Settlement rate was more than 10 mm/day,
and/or
 Horizontal movement was more than 5mm/day
However during construction period, at some
section where the soft clay/medium clay is so
thick up to 40m together with high embankment,
the rate of settlement was large and exceeded the
standard rate of 10mm/day of settlement and
5mm/day of horizontal movement. This caused
the postponing of the filling work and had
affected construction schedule.
To overcome this problem, Tominaga-
Hashimoto method and Matsuo-Kawamure
method were applied to control the embankment
filling period.
 Tominaga-Hashimoto method (S - δ method):
Measured values are plotted in Figure 8.
Embankment will fail if =dSh/dSv ≥ 0.7 or 2
≥ 1+0.5
 Matsuo-Kawamura method (S - δ/S method):
settlement rate up to 44 mm. This helped to save
and to short the construction time.
Table 4 Monitoring data at the flyover B49-A2 at
Km37+460

Horizontal movement

Taminaga- Hasimoto
Embankment height
Embankment will be in danger if Pi/Pf >0.8

Project requirement

Matsuo-Kawamure
Rate of horizontal

Rate of settlement

Not comply with

where Pi is Embankment load/ Pf is

movement
Time
Embankment load on failure.
Table 4 shows settlement rate and horizontal
movement rate, monitored at bridge
approachment B49-A2 (Km74+471). Horizontal
movement was very large up to 58mm/ day and T day
H Sh dSh dSv


settlement rate up to 44mm/day. These value (m) (cm) cm/day cm/day
exceeded the project limit and embankment 81 3.9 0.9 0.0 3.6
filling would have been postponed and/or 84 4.5 3.4 0.0 1.5

And Sv max =44mm >10mm/day

h max = 56mm >5mm/day
unloaded, waited for at least one week. 90 5.0 6.2 0.0 2.2
91 5.0 6.2 0.0 1.8
99 5.0 11.6 0.5 1.8

Stable
106 5.5 13.3 0.2 1.9
112 6.5 17.2 1.2 3.6
113 7.0 19.8 2.6 4.4
115 7.0 22.4 0.0 2.2
116 7.0 22.4 0.0 2.1
119 7.0 29.5 0.2 1.7
82 4.5 3.4 2.4 3.5
89 4.5 6.2 1.8 1.4
95 5.0 8.2 0.0 1.7

or Sv >10mm/day

Close to failure
h >5mm/day
Figure 8. Embankment- settlement at B49-A2 96 5.0 9.4 1.2 1.7
98 5.0 11.1 1.8 1.6
114 7.0 22.4 2.6 3.3
117 7.0 28.2 5.8 2.0
118 7.0 29.3 1.1 1.5
218 9.8 32.4 0.4 1.3

Figure 9. Tominaga-Hashimoto method

Applying the Tominaga-Hashimoto and
Matsuo-Kawamure method analyzing relationship
between horizontal movement rate and settlement
rate, embankment stability were evaluated.
Figure 10. Matsuo-Kawamura method
Stability control at bridge approachment B49-A2,
during construction time is presented in Figure 8, 6. CONCLUSIONS
Figure 9 and Figure 10. The embankment filling
had been carried safely even with the horizontal In the present paper the consolidation settlement
movement rate reached up to 26 mm and has been observed and the back analysis was done

648
in the early stage to obtain more accurate ultimate
consolidation settlement. As the result the scheme
of filling and the embankment thickness was
adjusted in time accordingly.
High embankment was successfully constructed
even with high rate of movement due to large
settlement and horizontal movement during filling
period by applying the Tominaga-Hashimoto
method and Matsuo Kawamura method to evaluate
the embankment stability, over come the problem
of postponing the filling work.
The results of analysis by this paper can be
concluded as follows.
(1) The consolidation settlement curve predicted
from feed back analysis using adjusted soil
properties shows good agreement with the
measured settlement data.
(2) The final settlement estimated from
measured data using Asaoka method and
Hyperbolic method gives quite similar final
settlement to those found by the feed back analysis.
(3) Applying the Tominaga-Hashimoto method
and Matsuo Kawamura method to evaluate stability
embankment filling had been carried out safely
even with horizontal movement rate reached up to
26mm/day and settlement rate up to 44mm/day.
From the above, even in the case the actual
monitored data on settlement and horizontal
movement were much greater than estimated value
due to the difference of soil condition obtained at
detailed design stage, the filling works still have
possibility not to postpone schedule by analysing
daily monitored data with applying above said
methods.

7. REFERENCES
Asaoka, A. (1978). Observational procedure of
settlement prediction. Soil Found., 18(4), 87-
101
Bergado, D.T. et al. (1996). Soft Ground
Improvement: In Lowland and Other
Environments. Book.
Tan, T., Inoue, T., and Lee, S. L (1991).
Hyperbolic Method for Consolidation Analysis.
J. Geotech. Engrg., 117(11), 1723-1737.

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