MODULE – III

Soil stabilization
techniques
Prof. IRFAN NALBAND 1
 Definition
1. Stabilization is the process of blending and mixing materials and
admixtures with a soil to improve certain engineering properties
of the soil is called as soil stabilization.
OR
Stabilization is the permanent physical and chemical alteration of
soils by adding chemicals or adopting engineering techniques to
enhance engineering properties of soil, thus improving the load
bearing capacity”.

2. Ground improvement or sub-surface stabilization is defined

as geotechnical construction methods used to alter and improve
poor ground conditions and engineering properties of ground in
order to increase S.B.C. of soil and stability of ground is called
as ground improvement.
Prof. IRFAN NALBAND 2
 Objectives /application of soil stabilization or ground
improvement
1. Soil erosion control
2. Increasing the bonding between grains,Increasing the
mechanical strength & stability of soil
3. Reducing the volume of voids (reducing the porosity)
4. Filling the voids that cannot be eliminated (reducing
the permeability)
5. Increasing SBC of soil and improving the stability of
ground
6. Increase density of soil particles due to soil mass
consolidation
7. Saves time, cost, environment and labours.
Prof. IRFAN NALBAND 3
 What is soil stabilization?
What is ground improvement?
1. Stabilization is the process of blending and mixing materials
and admixtures with a soil to improve certain engineering
properties of the soil is called as soil stabilization.
2. Improvements of ground include increasing the weight bearing
capabilities, tensile strength, and overall performance of subsoil,
sands, and in order to strengthen road pavement.
3. Soil can also be stabilized mechanically with
stabilization geosynthetics, for example, geogrids or geocells, a
3D mechanical soil stabilization technique made up of polymer.
4. Mechanical Stabilization, Soil-Cement Stabilization, Soil-Lime
Stabilization, Soil-Bitumen Stabilization, chemical stabilization
these are some types of ground improvement methods.
5. It reduces road construction cost and improves the life of road.
6. It increase density of soil particles due to soil mass consolidation
so Increases SBC of soil and improves the stability of ground 4
Prof. IRFAN NALBAND
  Stone column:
• It is a ground improvement technique used to improve the load
bearing capacity and reduce the settlement of the soil. It is also called
as granular columns or granular piles. This technique is also known as
Vibro-replacement. In this technique dense aggregate column (stone
columns) is constructed by means of a crane-suspended down hole
vibrator.
• Installation of stone column improves ground by reducing soil
settlement. Due to its higher modulus of elasticity than that of soil, it
absorbs more load than soil and reduces overall settlement.
• Since applied load distributes in between soil and stone column in the
ratio of their stiffness, the load carrying capacity of soil also
increases.
• Graves or stones used to install stone column have size about 6mm-
40mm. Stone column is generally 25 cm – 40 cm diameter.
• Stone columns have been successfully used to support isolated
footing, large raft foundations and embankment
Prof. IRFAN NALBAND 5
Prof. IRFAN NALBAND 6
Advantages :
 To reduction of total and differential settlements.
 To reduction of liquefaction potential of cohesion less soil.
 To increase the bearing capacity of a site to make it possible
to use shallow foundation on the soil.
 To increase the stiffness.
 To improve the drainage conditions

Prof. IRFAN NALBAND 7

 Sand drain :
• Sand drains are constructed by driving down casings or hollow
mandrels into the soil.
• The holes are then filled with sand, after which the casings are
parallel out.
• When a surcharge loading is applied at ground surface, the pore
water pressure in the clay will increase, and there will be drainage
in the vertical and horizontal directions.
• Due to surcharge loading permeable soil particles between
successive sand drains get compressed and drains water, that
moisture get absorbed by vertical sand column and drained to
bottom of column.
• Sand drain method is applicable for highly permeable soil, marshy
land and loose soil wth moisture content.

Prof. IRFAN NALBAND 8

Sand Drain method

Prof. IRFAN NALBAND 9

Prof. IRFAN NALBAND 10
 Sand drain continues………
• A circular casing or hollow steel mandrel, of about 25-cm internal
diameter and 6-m height, is driven vertically into the soft soil up to
the required depth through the embankment and sand layer.
• The soil in the mandrel is removed and the hole is back filled with
clean sand. The mandrel is then removed.
• The embankment is then constructed up to the full height in stages.
After allowing sufficient time for consolidation to complete, the
required structure, such as pavement, airport, or oil storage tank, is
constructed.
 Advantages of Sand Drains:
1. Provision of sand drains allows drainage of pore water in radial
direction in addition to the drainage in vertical direction.
2. With faster consolidation, the soil gains shear strength rapidly,
allowing faster construction and thus reducing the project cost.
3. The long-term stability of the structure

Prof. IRFAN NALBAND 11

Prof. IRFAN NALBAND 12
Prof. IRFAN NALBAND 13
  Grouting (foundation grouting)
Def: The construction of structures on weak ground often
requires the soil to be improved and in order to ensure the
safety and the stability of the structure mortar slurry with
admixture, chemical treatment is given to subsurface
ground called as foundation grouting..
 Material Used for Grouting:
The commonly used materials for grouting include:
1) Cement and water.
2) Cement, rock flour and water.
3) Cement, clay, sand and water.
4) Asphalt.
5) Chemicals.
Prof. IRFAN NALBAND 14
• The process of grouting involves injecting materials into the soil to
stabilize it. Cement grouts injected around the bases of structures
help stabilize the soil around the object. Referred to as foundation
grouting, this procedure is often used to stabilize the base or
foundation of dams.
 Types of Grouting:
1) Pressure grouting.
2) Compaction grouting.
3) Chemical grouting.
4) Jet grouting.
Equipments used for Grouting:
1. Grouting pump
2. Nozzles
3. Anchor bolts
4. Casings
5. Skid mounted machinaries
6. Hose pipe Prof. IRFAN NALBAND 15
1) Pressure grouting.
Pressure grouting involves injecting a grout material into generally
isolated pore or void space of which neither the configuration nor
volume are known, and is often referred to simply as grouting. The grout
may be a cementitious, resinous, or solution chemical mixture.

Prof. IRFAN NALBAND 16

2) Compaction grouting.
• Compaction grouting is a cost effective technique for the re-
compaction and stabilization of sub-soils to greater depths.
• Used for depths of (25-75) feet (7-23) meters, soil problem of
poorly compacted fill, loose soils, infiltration of water, and failure to
over excavate and re-compact a building sites.
• Compaction Grouting has been found to reduce the possible damage
of liquefaction of soils during seismic events.
• This technique uses a clear low slump grout that can be pumped
slowly under high pressure into the soils with predictable results that
will densify and re-compact the soils.

Prof. IRFAN NALBAND 17

Prof. IRFAN NALBAND 18
3) Chemical grouting
• Chemical grouting is commonly
used in granular soils with
significant fine sand to prevent
excessive movement, to lower
the permeability of the soil, to
prevent excessive water
inflows.
• One of the advantages of
chemical grouting is the ability
to introduce grout into soil
pores without any essential
change in the original soil
volume.
• Chemicals are mixed with
water and reagents, such as
sodium silicates.
Prof. IRFAN NALBAND 19
4) Jet grouting.
• Jet grouting is an in-situ construction
technique used to improve the mechanical
characteristics of a soil.
• Because of its design flexibility, jet
grouting is an important alternative to more
traditional grouting methods.
• Depending on the application and soils to
be treated, one of three variations is used:
1. Single fluid system (slurry grout jet)
2. Double fluid system (slurry grout jet
surrounded by an air jet)
3. triple fluid system (water jet
surrounded by an air jet, with a lower
grout jet).
• Jet grouting is used for underpinning
existing foundations and construct
excavation support walls. Prof. IRFAN NALBAND 20
 Application of grouting :
1. Dams and reservoir construction
2. Underpinning and repairing of settlement of existing footing
3. Increasing stability of pile foundation
4. Tunnel lining, shaft surfacing
5. Pipelines carrying ducts
6. Landslides protection at hill side or at zigzag roads.
7. Ground improvement and improving under ground stability.
8. Filling cracks till depth in structures like bridges, dams, buildings,
pavements,
9. Filling voids, cracks fissures in natural rock.
10. Drainage line or sewer lines finishing, giving leakage proof treatment to
Prof. IRFAN NALBAND 21
terrace
USE OF GEOTEXTILE
• Geotextiles are commonly used to improve soils over which roads,
embankments, pipelines, and earth retaining structures are built.
• A geotextile has high tensile strength, elongation, crack resistance.
• Geotextiles are porous fabrics made of synthetic materials, such as
polyethylene, polyester, nylon, polyvinyl chloride.
• Geotextiles are manufactured as woven, non-woven or grid form.
• They are used in the construction of road over soft soils.
• Geotextile is laid over the soil and aggregate is placed directly over
it. When the traffic passes over the road, it deforms and its strength
is mobilized.
• Functions of geotextile are separation, reinforcement, filtration and
drainage.
• It’s used for erosion control, improve pavement performance and
ground improvement.
Prof. IRFAN NALBAND 22
Prof. IRFAN NALBAND 23
Prof. IRFAN NALBAND 24
Prof. IRFAN NALBAND 25
Application of Geotextile:
1. Road Works
2. Railway Works
3. River Canals and Coastal Works:
4. Drainage, pipelines work
5. Sports field construction
6. Agriculture

Prof. IRFAN NALBAND 26

Diaphragm
walls
Prof. IRFAN NALBAND 27
• Diaphragm wall is a continuous wall constructed in ground to
facilitate certain construction activities, like retaining walls. Cut-off
walls in earthen dams and foundation walls.
• Diaphragm wall is a reinforced concrete structure constructed in-
situ panel by panel. The wall is usually designed to reach very
great depth, sometimes up to 50m, mechanical excavating method
is thus employed. Typical sequence of work includes:
a) Construct the guide wall
b) Excavation to form the diaphragm wall trench
c) Support the trench cutting using Bentonite slurry
d) Insert reinforcement and placing of concrete to form the wall
panel. Prof. IRFAN NALBAND 28
Prof. IRFAN NALBAND 29
Excavation support – The sides inside the trench cut can collapse easily.
Bentonite slurry is used to protect the sides of soil. Bontonite is a
specially selected fine clay, when added to water, forms an impervious
cakelike slurry with very large viscosity. The slurry will produce a great
lateral pressure sufficient enough to retain the vertical soil.
Reinforcement – reinforcement is inserted in the form of a steel cage,
but may be required to lap a few sections in order to reach the required
length.
Concreting – placing of concrete is done using tremie pipes to avoid the
segregation of concrete. As Concrete being poured down, Bontonite will
be displaced due to its lower density than concrete. Bontonite is then
collected and reused.
Joining for the diaphragm wall panel – Diaphragm wall cannot be
constructed continually for a very long section due to limitation and size
of the mechanical plant. The wall is usually constructed in alternative
section. The in-between sections are built similarly
Afterward,
Prof. IRFAN NALBAND 30
Prof. IRFAN NALBAND 31
Prof. IRFAN NALBAND 32
 APPLICATIONS & ADVANTAGE
• As permanent and temporary foundation walls for deep
basements.
• Work as retaining wall for highway and tunnel projects.
• As permanent walls for deep shafts for tunnel access.
• As permanent cut-off walls (COT)through the core of earth
dams i.e. hearting.
• In congested areas for retention systems and permanent
foundation walls.
• Deep ground water barriers through and under dams.
DISADVANTAGES
• They are relatively costly.
• They are also unsuited to strong soils conditions where penetration
is slow and difficult due to the use of the slurry trench method.
Prof. IRFAN NALBAND 33
Rock anchors:

Prof. IRFAN NALBAND 34

• Ground anchorages are generally post-tensioned tendons installed
and secured into the competent underlying strata where load is
transferred. The load is transferred to the competent strata by either
cement grout, resin or mechanical means. Ground anchorages can be
installed in drill holes with any inclination. There are a variety of
different options of anchorage to suit the ground conditions, access to
the site and work place and the required design.
• Soil nailing are generally used in soil or loose rock. Soil nails transfer
forces into the ground by means of a steel tendon or bar.
• This allows the head of the tendon to be fixed and stressed to transfer
the load.
• Anchorages & Nails are used primarily in the following situations:
1. Anchoring of retaining walls
2. For the stabilisation of eccentrically loaded foundations
3. In the stabilisation of slopes and rock walls or cuts during
excavation
4. For systematic rock stabilisation and local support form
underground excavations
Prof. IRFAN NALBAND 35
Rock anchors:

Prof. IRFAN NALBAND 36