Soft Ground Improvement

S.G.T Plan

Southern Transport Development

Project – Phase I

GEOSOFT
 Soft Ground Improvement

Objective
S.G.T Plan

Design suitable soft ground treatment

method to suit site conditions

GEOSOFT
 Soft Ground Improvement

S.G.T Plan

Identification and selection of Soft Ground Areas

based on;

1 . Study Longitudinal Sections

2 . Study Borehole details

3. Compared with field observation

GEOSOFT
 Soft Ground Improvement

S.G.T Plan
Soil parameters for settlement calculations and
slope stability analysis

1 . Borehole investigations

2. Correlations developed by researchers

GEOSOFT
 Soft Ground Improvement
Soil parameters for settlement calculations
SC and BD+SC Method            

Modified Modified Coefficient of Coefficient of

S.G.T Plan Wet Density
Pre-consolidation Modified
Recompression Secondary vertical horizontal
Soil stress Compression Index
Soil type Index Compression Index consolidation consolidation
Symbol

γ (kN/m3) Pc (kPa) Cc/(1+e0) Cr/(1+e0) Cα/(1+e0) Cv (m2/year) Ch (m2/year)

Peat Pt 12 σʹ+1 0.2660 0.0267 0.0080 2.00 4.00

Organic Clay OC 12 σʹ+1 0.1635 0.0164 0.0049 0.75 1.50
Alluvial Clay Ac 15 σʹ+1 0.1250 0.0125 0.0038 0.60 1.20

Alluvial Sandy Clay Acs 16 σʹ+1 0.0990 0.0099 0.0030 0.90 1.80

                 
GCP Method            

Modified Modified Coefficient of Coefficient of

Pre-consolidation Modified
Wet Density Recompression Secondary vertical horizontal
Soil stress Compression Index
Soil type Index Compression Index consolidation consolidation
Symbol

γ (kN/m3) Pc (kPa) Cc/(1+e0) Cr/(1+e0) Cα/(1+e0) Cv (m2/year) Ch (m2/year)

Peat Pt 12 σʹ+1 0.2660 0.0267 0.0080 0.80 0.80

Organic Clay OC 12 σʹ+1 0.1635 0.0164 0.0049 0.60 0.60
Alluvial Clay Ac 15 σʹ+1 0.1250 0.0125 0.0038 0.50 0.50

Alluvial Sandy Clay Acs 16 σʹ+1 GEOSOFT

0.0990 0.0099 0.0030 0.70 0.70
 Soft Ground Improvement
Soil parameters for slope stability analysis
PERMANENT
S.G.T Plan
Wet Unit Weight Strength Gain Fully Improved Partially Improved Un-improved
Material Ratio - Cu/σvo
(kN/m3)

C (kPa) ϕ (deg) C (kPa) ϕ (deg) C (kPa) ϕ (deg)

Peat 12 0.2 10+ΔC - 10+ΔC/2 - 10 -

Organic Clay 12 0.2 10+ΔC - 10+ΔC/2 - 10 -

Alluvial Clay 15 0.2 15+ΔC - 15+ΔC/2 - 15 -

Alluvial Sandy Clay 16 0.2 17+ΔC - 17+ΔC/2 - 17 -

Embankment 20 - 10 30 10 30 - -

Embankment -
22 - 10 30 10 30 - -
Settlement

GEOSOFT
* ΔC = (Cu/σvo) x ΔP x U    
 Soft Ground Improvement
Settlement Analysis
S.G.T Plan
S T = SI + S P + SS

ST -
Total Settlement

SI - Immediate Settlement

SP - Settlement due to Primary Consolidation

SS - Settlement due GEOSOFT

to Secondary Consolidation
 Soft Ground Improvement

Immediate Settlement
S.G.T Plan
zi
n
S I  C1C2 P  I zi
i 1 E si

C1 - 1.0 and C2 - 1.1

ΔP - Load (kPa)

E - Elastic Modulus of soil layer (kPa)

Izi - Influence Factor

ΔZi - Layer thickness (m) GEOSOFT

 Soft Ground Improvement
Primary Consolidation Settlement
S.G.T Plan
Cr  pc  Cc  p 0 ' p 
Sp   H  log    H  log  
1  e0  p 0 '  1  e0  pc 

Cc - Compression Index

Cr - Recompression Index

e0 - Initial Void Ratio

H - Thickness of Soft Soil Layer

Pc - Preconsolidation Pressure

P0 ’ - Overburden Pressure Before Embankment

P GEOSOFT
- Increased Pressure due to Embankment
 Soft Ground Improvement

Secondary Consolidation Settlement

S.G.T Plan

C  ts 
Ss   H  log 
1  e0 t 
 p 

Cα - Secondary Compression Index

ts - Secondary Compression Time

tp -Time to Achieved 95% Degree of Primary Consolidation

GEOSOFT
 Soft Ground Improvement

Time Period for Primary Consolidation Settlement

S.G.T Plan

TV = CV t / HD2

TV - Time Factor

CV - Coefficient of Vertical Consolidation ( m2/yr )

t - Time Following the Application of Loading

HD - Drainage Path Length ( m )

TV = 0.848 For 90%GEOSOFT

Degree of Consolidation
 Soft Ground Improvement
Time Period for Time Depended Loading
Tc = CV t c / H D 2
S.G.T Plan
TC - Time Factor for Construction

CV - Coefficient of Vertical Consolidation ( m2/yr )

tC - Time of Loading or Time of Construction of Embankment

HD - Drainage Path Length ( m )

GEOSOFT
 Soft Ground Improvement

Time Period for Prefabricated Vertical Drains

S.G.T Plan

Uh = 1- exp ( - 8 Th/ m )

m = n2 ln (n) - ( 3 n2 – 1)
( n2 - 1 ) 4 n2
n - Drain spacing ratio D/d
D - Diameter of equivalent soil layer influenced
by drains( m ) = 1.05 s or 1.13 s
s - Drain spacing
d - Equivalent diameter of PVD = 2 ( b+t ) / p
GEOSOFT
 Soft Ground Improvement

Soft Ground Treatment Methods – STDP Phase I

S.G.T Plan
1. Replacement – REP

2. Surcharge Method – SC

3. Band Drain with Surcharge – BD+SC

4. Gravel Compaction Pile – GCP

5. Precast Concrete Piles – PCP

GEOSOFT
 Soft Ground
Improvement
S.G.T Plan

Flow Chart for Soft

Ground Treatment Design
GEOSOFT
 Soft Ground Improvement
Surcharge Method
Station Le ngth Thickness Reference Fill Height up to SG (m)
Area No. Soil Type
From To (m) (m) BH Log Maximum Average
05 0+270 0+320 50 Ac 1.50 BHD 01 2.337 1.256
05A 0+320 0+400 80 Ac 1.50 BHD 01 5.993 4.819
S.G.T Plan
05B 0+400 0+560 160 Ac 1.50 BHD 01 9.496 8.114
05C 0+560 0+600 40 Ac 1.50 BHD 01 7.134 5.428
06 0+600 0+700 100 Ac 1.50 B1BH1 6.733 5.065
07 0+700 0+900 200 Ac 1.80 BHD 02 8.393 7.118
08 0+900 0+980 80 Ac 1.50 BHD 03 7.578 4.672
10 1+220 1+240 20 Acs 1.00 B1BH2 2.761 1.268
10A 1+240 1+330 90 Acs 1.00 B1BH2 6.776 5.926
10B 1+330 1+400 70 Acs 1.00 B1BH2 7.985 6.409
10C 1+400 1+450 50 Acs 1.00 B1BH2 3.691 2.527
11 1+660 1+700 40 Acs 1.00 B1BH3 6.376 2.913
11A 1+700 1+740 40 Acs 1.00 B1BH3 10.656 9.153
11B 1+740 1+830 90 Acs 1.00 B1BH3 8.438 6.635
12 2+080 2+140 60 Acs 1.00 B1BH4 8.652 5.912
14 2+170 2+190 20 Pt 1.90 B1BH6 9.884 9.588
16
19
2+290
2+530
2+370
2+560
80
30
GEOSOFT
Ac
Acs
1.00
1.00
BHD 05
BHD 06
8.605
6.511
8.046
5.921
 Soft Ground Improvement
Surcharge Method

S.G.T Plan

GEOSOFT
 Soft Ground Improvement

Band Drain + Surcharge Method

Station Length Thickness Reference Fill Height up to SG (m)
Area
S.G.T No.
Plan Soil Type
From To (m) (m) BH Log Maximum Average
09 1+070 1+220 150 Acs 2.40 BDH 04 5.456 2.706
13 2+140 2+170 30 Pt 2.40 B1BH5 10.143 9.681
17 2+370 2+410 40 OC 4.90 B1BH8 7.908 7.530
18 2+440 2+470 30 Acs 5.00 B1BH9 4.931 2.971
18A 2+470 2+530 60 Acs 5.00 B1BH9 4.217 1.402
30 3+370 3+430 60 Ac 2.70 B1BH20 6.834 6.752
47 7+100 7+200 100 Ac 4.10 B2BH94 10.453 9.996
48 7+200 7+330 130 Acs 4.25 B2BH95 10.774 10.395
60 8+350 8+410 60 OC 4.50 BHD 24 5.658 4.302
67 8+830 8+890 60 OC 3.00 7.279 4.472

GEOSOFT
 Soft Ground Improvement

Band Drain + Surcharge Method

Consolidation
Cv t
T 
S.G.T Planv
L2 U v2
For Tv ≤ 0.212 Tv  or 4Tv
4 Uv 

For Tv > 0.212
Tv  

4 ln 1  U v  2 / 8  or 8   2Tv 
U v  1  2 exp   
2   4 
Cht  8Th  n2  3n 2  1 
Th  U h  1  exp    F  2 ln  n    
D2 F 2 
  n 1  4n 
D2  n 2  3n2 1  1 
t  2 ln n    ln 
  
8Ch  n 1  4n   1 Uh 
2

U = 1- (1-U h )(1-U v )

GEOSOFT
 Soft Ground Improvement

Band Drain + Surcharge Method

Embankment Height, Settlement and Degree of Consolidation

8.0 0.00
S.G.T Plan
Embankment U Settlement
7.0 0.10

0.20
6.0
Embankment Height (m)

0.30

Settlement (m) and U

5.0
0.40
4.0
0.50
3.0
0.60
2.0
0.70

1.0 0.80

0.0 0.90
0 20 40 60 80 100 120
t (days)

GEOSOFT
 Soft Ground Improvement
Band Drain + Surcharge Method

S.G.T Plan

GEOSOFT
 Soft Ground Improvement
Gravel Compaction Pile Method
Station Length Thickness Reference BH Fill Height up to SG (m)
Area No. Soil Type
From To (m) (m) Log Maximum Average
15 2+220 2+290 70 Pt 9.60 B1BH7 9.130 8.554
20 2+560 2+680 120 OC 5.50 BHD 07 6.596 6.173
OC 2.60
21 2+680 2+740 60 BHD 08 7.391 6.586
S.G.T Plan Acs 2.60
OC 3.80
22 2+740 2+830 90 B1BH10 7.617 7.480
Pt 2.90
23 2+830 2+910 80 OC 7.00 B1BH11 8.332 8.056
24 2+910 2+950 40 Pt 5.60 BHD 09 8.492 8.351
25 2+950 2+970 20 Pt 7.90 B1BH12 8.486 8.118
Ac 2.40
27 3+080 3+200 120 B1BH16 8.458 8.283
OC 3.60
29 3+350 3+370 20 Pt 8.10 B1BH19 6.955 6.899
31 3+430 3+770 340 OC 14.70 BHD 11 7.493 6.740
34 4+210 4+330 120 OC 7.90 BHD 13 9.417 9.041
39 4+740 4+810 70 OC 11.40 BHD 18 10.615 10.532
40 4+810 4+840 30 Ac 11.00 B1BH36 10.783 10.643
Ac 2.30
Pt 1.90
42 6+720 6+850 130 B2BH91 9.253 8.724
Ac 4.50
Pt 2.85
OC 2.70
43 6+870 6+910 40 GEOSOFT
Pt 1.15 B2BH92 8.592 8.389
OC 10.25
 Soft Ground Improvement

Gravel Compaction Pile Method - cont

Station Length Thickness Reference BH Fill Height up to SG (m)
Area No. Soil Type
From To (m) (m) Log Maximum Average
45 7+010 7+070 60 OC 11.30 BHD 20 9.571 9.425
46 7+070 7+100 30 Ac 8.30 B2BH93 10.126 9.663
S.G.T Plan
49 7+330 7+360 30 Acs 11.70 B2BH96 8.998 8.145
Acs 5.80
50 7+360 7+380 20 B2BH97 9.277 7.661
Ac 7.30
52 7+440 7+550 110 OC 13.70 BHD 22 10.779 10.407
OC 11.10
53 7+550 7+600 50 B2BH98 10.001 9.806
Pt 1.60
Ac 11.50
54 7+630 7+660 30 B2BH99 9.332 9.267
Pt 1.50
55 7+660 7+700 40 Acs 13.00 B2BH100 9.151 8.948
56 7+730 7+820 90 Acs 5.50 B2BH101 8.542 7.971
57 7+820 7+890 70 Acs 5.50 6.604 3.789
58 7+890 8+030 140 OC 5.30 BHD 23 6.862 6.077
59 8+270 8+350 80 OC 7.40 BHD 24 5.449 4.668
61 8+410 8+500 90 OC 13.90 BHD 25 6.098 5.959
62 8+500 8+620 120 OC 11.90 BHD 26 6.672 6.365
64 8+670 8+730 60 Ac 9.80 B2BH106 6.861 6.796
OC 3.00
66 8+800 8+830 30
GEOSOFT
Ac 3.00
B3BH107 7.084 6.428

68 8+890 8+950 60 OC 11.30 B3BH108 7.660 7.451

 Soft Ground Improvement

Gravel Compaction Pile Method

S.G.T Plan

Composite Ground

Estimating settlement reduction of improved ground

(Aboshi and et al, 1985)
GEOSOFT
 Soft Ground Improvement

Gravel Compaction Pile Method

Embankment Height, Settlement and Degree of Consolidation

14.0 0.00
S.G.T Plan
Embankment U Settlement
12.0
0.20

10.0
0.40
Embankment Height (m)

Settlement (m) and U

8.0
0.60
6.0

0.80
4.0

1.00
2.0

0.0 1.20
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200
t (days)

GEOSOFT
 Soft Ground Improvement

Gravel Compaction Pile Method

S.G.T Plan

GEOSOFT
 Soft Ground Improvement

Pre-cast Concrete Pile Method

Station Length Thickness Reference BH Fill Height up to SG (m)
Area No. Soil Type
From To (m) (m) Log Maximum Average
OC 7.50
26 2+970 2+990 20 B1BH13 7.594 7.370
Acs 14.60
S.G.T Plan
28 3+250 3+290 40 Ac 16.10 BHD10 7.716 7.502
32 3+770 3+880 110 Pt 19.50 B1BH27 7.668 7.467
33 3+880 4+150 270 OC 17.80 BHD 12 8.619 7.934
OC 17.40
35 4+330 4+430 100 BHD 14 9.684 9.488
Ac 3.70
36 4+430 4+540 110 OC 22.00 BHD 15 9.934 9.777
OC 21.50
37 4+540 4+640 100 BHD 16 10.217 10.066
Ac 1.50
38 4+640 4+740 100 OC 20.30 BHD 17 10.501 10.346
41 6+570 6+700 130 Acs 21.35 B2BH90 10.209 9.760
44 6+910 7+010 100 OC 19.20 BHD 19 9.211 8.890
51 7+380 7+440 60 OC 17.60 BHD 21 10.907 10.379
63 8+650 8+670 20 Ac 17.30 B2BH105 6.729 6.662

65 8+730 8+800 70 GEOSOFT

OC
Ac
13.40
2.65
BHD 27 7.096 6.987
 Soft Ground Improvement

Pre-cast Concrete Pile Method

S.G.T Plan

Pt layer = 19.50 m
Filling Ht = 13.00 m
FOS = 1.107

GEOSOFT
 Soft Ground Improvement

Pre-cast Concrete Pile Method

S.G.T Plan

Key
1 Embankment
2 Outward shear stress
3 Reinforcement
4 Pile caps
5 Piles

Design done as per the BS 8006:1995

GEOSOFT
 Soft Ground Improvement
Field monitoring During Construction

S.G.T Plan Piezometer Settlement

Gauge

Compacted Fill Sand Layer

Peat

GEOSOFT
Sand
S.G.T Plan

Thank you

GEOSOFT