Principles and Practices of Ground Improvement

Deep Replacement
Presented by:
M. Taromi

Islamic Azad University – Islamshahr Branch

Department of geotechnical Engineering
Page 1 - 28
 CHAPTER 5: DEEP REPLACEMENT

• Introduction
Ch. 5.1

• Principles
Ch. 5.2

• Design Considerations
Ch. 5.3

• Design Parameters and Procedure

Ch. 5.4

Islamic Azad University – Islamshahr Branch

Department of geotechnical Engineering
Page 2 - 28
5.1. Introduction

Deep Replacement Method

Increase bearing capacity

Increase density
Decrease of settlement
Provide lateral stability
Increase resistance to liquefaction

Islamic Azad University – Islamshahr Branch

Department of geotechnical Engineering
Page 3 - 28
5.1. Introduction
Excavation of Geomaterials from Ground in Two Method:

by injecting water into the ground, turning the

by drilling a hole in the ground
geomaterial into slurry, and flushing it out from the hole.

Islamic Azad University – Islamshahr Branch

Department of geotechnical Engineering
Page 43 - 28
50
5.1. Introduction
Displacement of Soils in the ground in four Method:

by injecting water/air into ground. by driving a steel casing into the ground
 Vibro – replacement  Sand compaction column
 Vibro - displacement  Encased granular column

Islamic Azad University – Islamshahr Branch

Department of geotechnical Engineering
Page 35 - 50
28
5.1. Introduction
Displacement of Soils in the ground in four Method:

by driving a reverse auger. by dropping a tamper to penetrate into ground.

 Controlled stiffnes column  Dynamic replacement

Islamic Azad University – Islamshahr Branch

Department of geotechnical Engineering
Page 36 - 50
28
5.2. Principles
The Vibro Replacement Technique (Vibro Stone Columns)

 The stabilization of soils by displacing the soil

radially with the help of a depth vibrator,
refilling the resulting space with granular
material and compacting the same with the
vibrator is referred to as Vibro Replacement and
was developed by Keller in the 1950’s.
 The resulting matrix of compacted soil and
stone columns has improved load bearing and
settlement characteristics.

Basic principle of the vibro replacement technique

Islamic Azad University – Islamshahr Branch
Department of geotechnical Engineering
Page 37 - 50
28
 5.2. Principles
The Vibro Replacement Technique (Vibro Stone Columns)
 Principle
Reinforcement and Drainage
 Applicable soils
Mixed deposits of clay, silt and sand, Soft and ultra soft
silts (slimes) Soft and ultra soft clays, Garbage fills
 Effects
Increased shear strength, Increased stiffness, Reduced
liquefaction potential
 Common applications
Airport, Storage tanks,, Bridge abutments and
Offshore bridge abutments and land / offshore applications
 Maximum depth Particle size distribution illustrating applicability
10-15 m of Vibro-Compaction and Vibro-Replacement

Islamic Azad University – Islamshahr Branch

Department of geotechnical Engineering
Page 38 - 50
28
 5.2. Principles
The Vibro Replacement Technique

Schematic of wet top feed method Schematic of dry bottom feed vibrocat method

Islamic Azad University – Islamshahr Branch

Department of geotechnical Engineering
Page 9 - 28
 5.2. Principles
The Vibro Replacement Technique
Mechanisms of load transfer for ó – Stress
(a) a rigid pile and (b) a stone column óf - Mat/Pile Cap Pressure
óp – Stress Induced to Piles
Idealized stress distribution pattern for
deep foundation systems (piles)
Islamic Azad University – Islamshahr Branch
Department of geotechnical Engineering
ó – Stress
óf - Mat/Pile Cap Pressure
óc – Stone Column Stress
ós – Soil Stress
Idealized stress distribution pattern
for stone column systems
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5.2. Principles
The Vibro Replacement Technique

Advantage
 Installation is fast and easy
 Higher strength and stiffness than sand compaction columns
Disadvantage
 Installation of stone columns by bottom feeding does not generate spoil; however, that by top feeding
generates spoil, which is not environmentally friendly.

Islamic Azad University – Islamshahr Branch

Department of geotechnical Engineering
Page 11 - 28
 5.2. Principles
The Vibro – Concrete Columns
 Vibro Concrete Columns (VCCs) are an innovative
piling technique developed to provide enhanced load
bearing capacity at shallow depths through use of
enlarged bases.
 They are often used where weak organic soils overlie
granular deposits.
 VCC columns are classified and designed as
unreinforced piles.
 For the construction of VCC columns pump able
concrete is generally used the strength classification
C20/25.
Islamic Azad University – Islamshahr Branch
Department of geotechnical Engineering
Page 12 - 28
5.2. Principles
The Vibro – Concrete Columns

Islamic Azad University – Islamshahr Branch

Department of geotechnical Engineering
Page 13 - 28
5.2. Principles
The Vibro – Concrete Columns

Islamic Azad University – Islamshahr Branch

Department of geotechnical Engineering
Page 14 - 28
5.2. Principles
The Vibro – Concrete Columns

Advantage
 Higher strength and stiffness because of the use of concrete.
 The installation process is quick
Disadvantage
 They are more expensive than granular column.

Islamic Azad University – Islamshahr Branch

Department of geotechnical Engineering
Page 15 - 28
 5.2. Principles
The Controlled Stiffness Columns
 A specially designed auger, powered by equipment
with large torque capacity and high static down
thrust, displaces the soil laterally, with virtually no
spoil or vibration.
 During the auger extraction process, a column is
developed by grouting under controlled limited
pressure (less than 5 bars) through the stem of the
displacement auger to achieve a predetermined
stiffness ratio with the surrounding soil.
 The result is a composite soil/cement ground
improvement system.
 Current practice is to install columns with diameter
varying between 250 and 450 mm.

Islamic Azad University – Islamshahr Branch

Department of geotechnical Engineering
Page 16 - 28
 5.2. Principles
The Controlled Stiffness Columns
Application
 CMCs can be applied to various soil conditions.
 The technology works well in loose sands, soft loams, organic soils (peat,
aggradate mud, gyttjas) with a moisture content above 100% and
anthropogenic soils (uncompacted fills, heaps).

Islamic Azad University – Islamshahr Branch

Department of geotechnical Engineering
Page 17 - 28
5.2. Principles
The Controlled Stiffness Columns
Advantages
 can have strength and modulus according to project needs. Their strengths and moduli are higher than
those of granular columns.
 They are installed fast with real-time monitoring and without any vibration and spoil.
 There is no issue of hole collapse.
 It has a low mobilization cost.
Disadvantages
 However, they are more expensive than granular columns.
 Installation may be difficult in soils with rocks and boulders.

Islamic Azad University – Islamshahr Branch

Department of geotechnical Engineering
Page 18 - 28
 5.2. Principles
The Rammed Aggregate Columns

Basic Function
Aggregate Piers are a ground improvement method that
uses compacted aggregate to create stiff pier elements.
Aggregate Piers help increase bearing capacity, shear
strength, rate of consolidation, and liquefaction
resistance; and reduces settlement.

Islamic Azad University – Islamshahr Branch

Department of geotechnical Engineering
Page 19 - 28
5.2. Principles
The Rammed Aggregate Columns
 600 to 900 mm diameter holes are drilled into the foundation
soils. The holes normally reach depths of 2 to 9 m below grade.
 This lifts of well-graded aggregate are rammed into the holes.
 The subsequent compacted lifts are typically 25 cm deep.
 A high-energy beveled tamper mounted on excavator equipment
is used to compact the aggregate.
 Design parameters include pier length, spacing, pier stiffness,
and stress concentration ratio.
 Pier spacing is from1.5 to 2.5 m center to center of the piers.
 Load capacities range from 222 to 445 kN.

Islamic Azad University – Islamshahr Branch

Department of geotechnical Engineering
Page 20 - 28
 5.2. Principles
The Rammed Aggregate Columns
Geologic Applicability
 Soft organic clays, loose silt and sand, uncompact
fill, stiff to very stiff clays, and medium dense to
dense sands.
 Elevated water tables and cohesion less soils
complicate the installation.
Islamic Azad University – Islamshahr Branch
Department of geotechnical Engineering
Advantages
 Rapid installation
 Cost effective compared to other foundations options
 Creates additional drainage
 Allows for high level of compaction.
 Efficient QC/QA procedures
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5.2. Principles
The Rammed Aggregate Columns

Disadvantages
 Limited treatment depth.
 Lack of bending resistance.
 Difficult to install in clean sands when the groundwater table is above the bottom of the pier.
 Not applicable of wide heavy load applications.
 Usually only effective to a depth of 2 to 9 m below foundation.

Islamic Azad University – Islamshahr Branch

Department of geotechnical Engineering
Page 22 - 28
 5.2. Principles
The Dynamic Replacement
 The Dynamic Replacement technology consists in
construction of large diameter aggregate columns in
cohesive soil.
 The columns are formed by a heavy pounder with a weight
ranging from 15 up to 30 tons which is dropped from a
height ranging from 10 up to 30 m.
 Large diameter columns (ranging from 1.6 m up to 3.0 m)
are driven to a depth ranging from 4.0 m up to 7.0 m.

Islamic Azad University – Islamshahr Branch

Department of geotechnical Engineering
Page 23 - 28
5.2. Principles
The Dynamic Replacement
Geologic Applicability
 The Dynamic Replacement columns can be constructed
both in loose non-cohesive and firm soils, soft cohesive
soils as well as in organic deposits.
Advantages
 High bearing capacity
 high shear strength and low deformation capacity of
columns formed in weak soil.
 Comprehensive improvement
 Environmentally friendly
The Dynamic Replacement columns can be formed of recycled
material (concrete rubble, coarse grain rubble, Gravel, etc.).
Islamic Azad University – Islamshahr Branch
Department of geotechnical Engineering
Page 24 - 28
 5.2. Principles
The Geosynthetic-encased granular columns

Encased granular column technology is used for

very soft soils and organic soils with undrained
shear strength as low as 5 kPa. The typical depth
of the columns is 5–10 m.

Islamic Azad University – Islamshahr Branch

Department of geotechnical Engineering
Page 25 - 28
 5.2. Principles
The Geosynthetic-encased granular columns
Advantages
 Impart lateral confinement
 Increase the load capacity & stiffness
 Stresses are transferred to deeper strata.
 Higher lengths of stone column are possible.
 Higher degree of compaction can be achieved.

Islamic Azad University – Islamshahr Branch

Department of geotechnical Engineering
Page 26 - 28
5.2. Principles
The Geosynthetic-encased granular columns

Islamic Azad University – Islamshahr Branch

Department of geotechnical Engineering
Page 27 - 28
5.2. Principles
The Geosynthetic-encased granular columns

 Geosynthetic-encased granular columns can be used in very soft soil with undrained shear strength
lower than 15 kPa and as low as 5 kPa.
 Geosynthetic encasement increases the stiffness of columns as compared with granular columns.
 However, geosynthetic-encased columns are more expensive and slower to install as compared with
granular columns without geosynthetic.

Islamic Azad University – Islamshahr Branch

Department of geotechnical Engineering
Page 28 - 28