G&P Professional Sdn Bhd (www.gnpgroup.com.

my)
GEOTEC!"C#$ E!G"!EE%"!G
GEOTEC!"C#$ E!G"!EE%"!G
C#$$E!GES &O% "G'#(
C#$$E!GES &O% "G'#(
)ES"G! #!) CO!ST%*CT"O! O!
)ES"G! #!) CO!ST%*CT"O! O!
SO&T G%O*!)
SO&T G%O*!)

By )a+o, "r. )r. Gue See Sew
"r. )r. 'ong Shiao (un
C#$$E!GES &O%
C#$$E!GES &O%
GEOTEC!"C#$ E!G"!EE%S
GEOTEC!"C#$ E!G"!EE%S
O! SO&T G%O*!)
O! SO&T G%O*!)
Consolida+ion
Se++lemen+
Bearing
Capaci+y and
Consolida+ion
Se++lemen+
&#"$*%E E-E!T "! .#$#(S"#
&#"$*%E E-E!T "! .#$#(S"#


S#B#
&#"$*%E E-E!T "! .#$#(S"#
&#"$*%E E-E!T "! .#$#(S"#


S"B*
&#"$*%E E-E!T "! .#$#(S"#
&#"$*%E E-E!T "! .#$#(S"#


&#"$*%E E-E!T "! .#$#(S"#
&#"$*%E E-E!T "! .#$#(S"#


&#"$*%E E-E!T "! .#$#(S"#
&#"$*%E E-E!T "! .#$#(S"#


&#"$*%E E-E!T "! S"!G#PO%E
&#"$*%E E-E!T "! S"!G#PO%E

")E!T"T( O& SO&T
")E!T"T( O& SO&T
G%O*!)
G%O*!)
")E!T"T( O& SO&T G%O*!)
")E!T"T( O& SO&T G%O*!)
S
u
/ 012Pa
S
u
3 012Pa
")E!T"T( O& SO&T G%O*!)
")E!T"T( O& SO&T G%O*!)
")E!T"T( O& SO&T G%O*!)
")E!T"T( O& SO&T G%O*!)
-EGET#T"O!
-EGET#T"O!
-EGET#T"O!
-EGET#T"O!
Alluvial Deposits
Sof+ Ground
in .alaysia
Alluvial
Deposits
Em4an2men+ &ailure
Em4an2men+ &ailure
Em4an2men+ Trea+ed wi+h -acuum
Em4an2men+ Trea+ed wi+h -acuum
Preloading wi+h -er+ical )rains
Preloading wi+h -er+ical )rains
V e r y L o o s e C l a y e y S A N D
M e d i u m t o S t i f f S i l t y C L A Y a n d C l a y e y S I L T
E m 4 a n 2 m e n + & i l l
( ' i + h o u + - a c u u m P r e l o a d i n g )
E m 4 a n 2 m e n + & i l l ( & a i l e d # r e a )
( - a c u u m P r e l o a d i n g w i + h - e r + i c a l ) r a i n s )
- e r + i c a l ) r a i n s
$ i n e r a n d S a n d $ a y e r
f o r - a c u u m S y s + e m
S c a l e ( m )
1 5 0 1
S o f t S a n d y C L A Y
V e r y S o f t S i l t y C L A Y
Figure 1 Cross-section of Embankment A.
(After Gue et al. 200!
Em4an2men+ &ailure
Em4an2men+ &ailure

Em4an2men+ failed 6 &ill heigh+ of 5.5m

#f+er &ailure of -acuum Preloading %emedial

wi+h S+one Columns.

Em4an2men+ &ailed #gain a+ 7.8m

Sheer )rop and Crac2s
ea9e *p
*ndrained Shear S+reng+h Profile
*ndrained Shear S+reng+h Profile

0 :
0 ;
0 8
0 1
<
:
;
8
1
)
e
p
+
h

(
m
)
1 0 1 8 1 7 1
S e n s i + i 9 i + y = S +
S u - U n d i s t u r b e d f r o m V S - A
S u - R e m o l d e d f r o m V S - A
S u - U n d i s t u r b e d f r o m V S - B
S u - R e m o l d e d f r o m V S - B
" n > S i + u - a n e S h e a r T e s +
V S - A
V S - B
S u 6 0 1 2 P a
S u 6 < 2 P a
S u 6 0 7 2 P a
S u 6 0 ? 2 P a
S u 6 0 @ 2 P a
1 0 1 8 1 7 1 ; 1 5 1 : 1
* n d r a i n e d S h e a r S + r e n g + h = S u ( 2 P a )
Figure Undrained S!ear Strengt! "rofile.
.oni+ored Pore 'a+er Pressures
.oni+ored Pore 'a+er Pressures

& i s + C r a c 2 O 4 s e r 9 e d o n ) a y 0 : 8
E A c e s s P o r e ' a + e r P r e s s u r e
g e n e r a + e d a + P B > # 7 =
* 6 C 9 e
E A c e s s P o r e ' a + e r P r e s s u r e
g e n e r a + e d a + P B > # 8 =
* 6 C 9 e
S + a g e B
S + a g e C
S + a g e )
S + a g e E
S + a g e &

> 8
1
8
;
:
<
0 1
0 8
P
i
e
D
o
m
e
+
e
r

e
a
d

(
m
)
P i e z o m e t e r s a t L o c a t i o n A
a + 7 . 1 m d e p + h
a + : . 1 m d e p + h
a + < . 1 m d e p + h
# 5 1 0 1 1 0 5 1 8 1 1 8 5 1 7 1 1 7 5 1
) a y s
1
8
;
:
&
i
l
l

e
i
g
h
+

(
m
)
) e s i g n e d ' a + e r e a d
i s 7 m a + P B > # 0
) e s i g n e d ' a + e r e a d
i s : m a + P B > # 8 .
) e s i g n e d ' a + e r e a d
i s < m a + P B > # 7

Figure $ Construction Se%uence and
&onitored "ore 'ater "ressure C!anges.
&ailure of Em4an2men+ +rea+ed wi+h
&ailure of Em4an2men+ +rea+ed wi+h
S+one Columns
S+one Columns

Only Prie4e,s .e+hod

was used

Bulging & General

Shear &ailures no+
chec2ed

"ndependen+ re9iew
shows inadeEua+e
General Shear
Capaci+y

Figure ( )a* Stresses on Stone Column . )b* Com+arison of ,ifferent &et!ods )after &ad!a- .
&iura/ 100$*
.e+hods of Es+ima+ing *l+ima+e
.e+hods of Es+ima+ing *l+ima+e
Bearing Capaci+y
Bearing Capaci+y

Large range of possible Ultimate Bearing Capacity

Attention when using stone columns in very soft

ground e!g! su " #$%&a'
$essons $earned
$essons $earned

-acuum Preloading .e+hod shall 4e closely

moni+ored

%emedial design for failed em4an2men+ shall used

Fdis+ur4edG soil s+reng+h

S+one columns design shall chec2 for all modes of

failure
C O4ser9a+ional .e+hod (recommended)

*nders+and +he $imi+a+ion of Sof+ware used "+

may no+ chec2 all +he reEuired modes of failures
S+one Column
S+one Column
The Principle

Stone Columns
( )ranular &ile
( Vibro *eplacement

+nvolves partial replacement

of unsuitable subsoil with
compacted column of
stones or aggregates
S+one Column
D D
Firm strata
Stone Stone
column column
Soft clay
Sand
platform

Usually completely penetrates the wea% strata

S+one Column
,
Em4an2men+
Sand
Pla+form
Compressi4le
$ayer
&irm S+ra+a
&unc+ion
S+one Column

&rovide bearing capacity - strengthening

immediately upon installation

*educe settlement

+ncrease the rate of consolidation

.acilitate subsoil drainage

/iameter0 1!2m - #!3m

O+her #9aila4le Op+ion for
O+her #9aila4le Op+ion for
Ground "mpro9emen+
Ground "mpro9emen+
Surcharging
Surcharging

Temporarily compress +he su4soil wi+h

higher pressure +han permanen+ load

#chie9e higher ini+ial ra+e of se++lemen+ C

reduce long +erm se++lemen+

$arger por+ion of fill lef+ 4ehind

"f fill ma+erial is a9aila4le

Em4an2men+
Sof+ Soil Sof+ Soil
&inished $e9el
Surcharging
Surcharging
Surcharge
&
i
l
l

T
h
i
c
2
n
e
s
s
%es+ Period
S
e
+
+
l
e
m
e
n
+
&illing
Time
Time
'i+h Surcharge
4 a
&#STE%
&#STE%
'i+hou+ Surcharge
Surcharge
Surcharge
S
e
+
+
l
e
m
e
n
+
S
e
+
+
l
e
m
e
n
+
Ser9ice $ife of Ser9ice $ife of
em4an2men+ em4an2men+
Permanen+ Permanen+
$oading $oading
$og $og
Time Time
$og $og
Time Time
Permanen+ Permanen+
$oading Only $oading Only
Primary Primary
Consolida+ion Consolida+ion
Secondary Secondary
Consolida+ion Consolida+ion
Permanen+ & Permanen+ &
Surcharge Surcharge
$oading $oading
Ser9ice $ife Ser9ice $ife
Se++lemen+ Se++lemen+
wi+hou+ wi+hou+
Surcharge Surcharge
-
e
r
+
i
c
a
l

P
r
e
s
s
u
r
e

f
r
o
m

-
e
r
+
i
c
a
l

P
r
e
s
s
u
r
e

f
r
o
m

E
m
4
a
n
2
m
e
n
+

$
o
a
d
i
n
g
E
m
4
a
n
2
m
e
n
+

$
o
a
d
i
n
g
Ser9ice $ife of Ser9ice $ife of
Em4an2men+ Em4an2men+
Surcharge Surcharge
)ura+ion )ura+ion
Cons+ruc+ion Cons+ruc+ion
Temporary Surcharge
Temporary Surcharge
Ear+hwor2 Surcharge in Progress
-E%T"C#$ )%#"!S
-E%T"C#$ )%#"!S
&unc+ions
&unc+ions

&rovide shorter
drainage path

Accelerate
dissipation of
e4cess pore water
pressure

)
)rainage Pa+h for Consolida+ion
)rainage Pa+h for Consolida+ion
Consolida+ion Theory
Consolida+ion Theory
c
c
9 9
6 T
6 T
9 9

) )
8 8
H +
H +
'here c
9
6 coefficien+ of consolida+ion in
9er+ical direc+ion (m
8
Hyear)
T
9
6 Time fac+or (dimensionless)

)
6 )rainage pa+h leng+h (m)
+ 6 Time applica+ion of loading (year)
%earrange
%earrange
I
I

+ 6 T
+ 6 T
9 9

) )
8 8
H c
H c
9 9
Therefore
Therefore
011
011
+imes
+imes
fas+erJ
fas+erJ
# t #11
#1m #m
5
/
+
+

) )
8 8
INSTALL"D #VD
INSTALL"D #VD
P-) "!ST#$$#T"O! -")EO
P-) "!ST#$$#T"O! -")EO
&ailure of Bridge
&ailure of Bridge
&ounda+ions and #pproach
&ounda+ions and #pproach
Em4an2men+
Em4an2men+
O9er9iew
O9er9iew
#4u+men+ ""
Pier ""
#4u+men+ "
Pier "
O9er9iew
O9er9iew
Abutment I
Abutment II
Pier I
Pier II
Su4soil Condi+ion
Su4soil Condi+ion
85m coas+al & allu9ium C$#(
Sheer )rop
Sheer )rop
Sheer )rop
Pilecaps
Slip &ailure
Slip &ailure
Til+ed #4u+men+ &
Til+ed #4u+men+ &
Gap 4e+ween Bridge )ec2s
Gap 4e+ween Bridge )ec2s
Opening
4e+ween
4ridge
Til+ from
-er+ical
Pier ""
Pier ""
Tilted Pilecap
Slip &ailure of Em4an2men+
Slip &ailure of Em4an2men+

#+ 85m 4ehind #4u+men+ ""

#4u+men+ "" K
> Til+ed 551mm on +op
> #ngular dis+or+ion of 0H:

711mm gap 4e+ween 4ridge dec2s

Geo+echnical "n9es+iga+ion
Geo+echnical "n9es+iga+ion

failure
L 7m

Desi$n
L 5.5m
!OT S#&E
O' TO
CECMN
'ha+ "s The Cri+ical eigh+N
'ha+ "s The Cri+ical eigh+N
H
H
failure failure
= (N
= (N
c c
x Su) /
x Su) /
fill fill
N
N
c c
5
5
H
H
failure failure
= (5 x Su) /
= (5 x Su) /
fill fill
e.g. :
e.g. :
When
When
Su = 10 kPa ;
Su = 10 kPa ;

fill fill
= 18 kN/m
= 18 kN/m


H
H
failure failure
= (5 x 10)/ 18 = !.8 m
= (5 x 10)/ 18 = !.8 m
&ailures (+emporary wor2s)
> "nadeEua+e geo+echnical
design
> Su4soil Condi+ion
($ac2 of unders+anding)
> $ac2 of cons+ruc+ion
con+rol & super9ision
$essons $earned
$essons $earned
Pre9en+i9e .easures
Pre9en+i9e .easures

Proper design and re9iew

S+a4ili+y chec2 of em4an2men+ &

a4u+men+

.os+ cri+ical K>

)uring cons+ruc+ion
(mus+ chec2 +emporary wor2s)

Proper full>+ime super9ision

(wi+h rele9an+ eAperience & unders+and design
assump+ions)
SETT$E.E!T O&
SETT$E.E!T O&
#PP%O#CES
#PP%O#CES
B%")GES
B%")GES
Pile
O.G.$.
&inal Profile
$ong Term
Profile
#4u+men+
Typical Cross>Sec+ion
Typical Cross>Sec+ion
SO.E SO$*T"O!S TO
SO.E SO$*T"O!S TO
TE P%OB$E.
TE P%OB$E.
EApanded Polys+yrene
(EPS)
Pile
#4u+men+
O.G.$.
&inal Profile
$ong Term
Profile
*SE O& $"GT 'E"GT .#TE%"#$
*SE O& $"GT 'E"GT .#TE%"#$
http0--www!nhi!fhwa!dot!gov
*SE O& T%#!S"T"O! E.B#!M.E!T P"$ES
*SE O& T%#!S"T"O! E.B#!M.E!T P"$ES
Transi+ion Em4an2men+
Piles
Pile
#4u+men+
O.G.$.
&inal Profile
$ong Term
Profile
#pproach
Sla4
EO#.P$E (BE%!#. P#(#)
6ransition &iles 7 Surcharging
( .ewer &iles 7 Cost Saving
SETT$E.E!T O&
SETT$E.E!T O&
#PP%O#CES TO
#PP%O#CES TO
C*$-E%TS
C*$-E%TS


PILED CULVERT
PILED CULVERT
&inal
Profile
Pil
e
$ong Term
Profile
O.G.$.
SO.E SO$*T"O!S TO
SO.E SO$*T"O!S TO
TE P%OB$E.
TE P%OB$E.
ENLARGED CULVERT
ENLARGED CULVERT
&inal
Profile
$ong Term
Profile
Sil+
O.G.$.
T%#!S"T"O! P"$ES
T%#!S"T"O! P"$ES
Pile
&inal
Profile
$ong Term
Profile
Transi+ion
Em4an2men+
Piles
Transi+ion
Em4an2men+
Piles
Guidance !o+es on Su4soil
Guidance !o+es on Su4soil
"n9es+iga+ion
"n9es+iga+ion
Guidance !o+es on Su4soil "n9es+iga+ion
Guidance !o+es on Su4soil "n9es+iga+ion

Collec+ *) from B

$a4ora+ory Tes+K *CT & 0>)

Consolida+ion Tes+

PieDoconeK
8
To de+ec+ presence of sand lenses
8 E
u
8
Especially for surcharge design wi+h or
wi+hou+ P-)
$ocalised 'ea2 Bone
$ocalised 'ea2 Bone
$ocalised 'ea2 Bone
$ocalised 'ea2 Bone
Generalised
modera+ely
conser9a+i9e
design line
(.C$)
$ocalised 'ea2 Bone
$ocalised 'ea2 Bone
"f no+ iden+ifies= li2ely
+o cause failure
Surcharge C P-)
Piled Em4an2men+
&ur+her 9erify 4y
-ane Shear Tes+s=
PieDocones & .Ps
Conclusion
Conclusion
CO!C$*S"O!
CO!C$*S"O!

"mpor+an+K
Bearing Capaci+y assessmen+ 4y C%*)E
chec2
S(STE.#T"C chec2 & re9iew process
(re9iew 4y eAperienced engineers)
ST%*CT*%E) +raining programmes
(enhance +echnical 2nowledge & share
lessons learned)
&ull>+ime S*PE%-"S"O! wi+h +eam of
sui+a4le eAperience
EA+ra Care on TE.PO%#%( 'O%MS
CO!C$*S"O!
CO!C$*S"O!

)O !OT

#4use geo+echnical design= de+ailed

analysis

O9erloo2 localised wea2 Dones

O9erloo2 s+ruc+ural de+ailing

SO&T G%O*!) CO!ST%*CT"O!
G&P Geo+echnics Sdn Bhd
(www.gnpgroup.com.my)