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CompactionGroutingConsensusGuide
ShortCourse
CompactionGroutingDesign
Dr.DawnShuttle,PE

ObjectivesoftheDesignModule
1.BecomefamiliarwithstandardCG
design.
2.Knowwhatcanbedensified,andwhy.
3.Understandwhyslowerinjectionis
better..
4.Understandthelimitationsofstandard
analysisofcompactiongrouting.

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Slides5to8havebeenrelocatedto
advances

Startwiththeconceptualmodel.
SoilBehavior101

Loosesoilcontractingduringshear.

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SoilBehavior101

Densesoilexpandingduringshear.
BUTwedontwantthesoiltoexpand

SoilBehavior101
1000

Easyto
compaction
grout

400

800
deviator stress, q: kPa

deviator stress, q: kPa

600

200
Loose

400

10

15

3
2
contraction

0
-1
expansion

volumetric strain: %

volumetric strain: %

axial strain: %

-2

Dense

200

Impossibleto
compaction
grout

600

10
axial strain: %

15

3
2
1

contraction

0
-1
-2

-3

-3

-4

-4

-5

-5

expansion

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0.900

Loose
G685

0.800

G682

G681

Void ratio, e

emax

0.700

CSL
G662

G665

0.600

G667

Dense

e  ec
Erksak

0.500
10

100

1000

10000

Mean effective stress, p' (kPa)

RelationshipbetweenDrandSoil
Description D e  e


e
e
max min
max

Relative
Density (%)

Descriptive
Term

Approximate \

03

0 15

Very loose

+0.1

310

15 35

Loose

0.0

1018

35 65

Medium Dense

-0.05

1830

65 85

Dense

-0.1

>30

85 100

Very Dense

-0.3

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Densitymatters
deviator stress, q: kPa

600

400

200
Dense

0
0

10

15
20
25
axial strain: %

30

35

volumetric strain: %

4
3
2
1

contraction

0
-1
-2
-3

expansion

40

CGonlyworksfor
loosersoils
Generally\ >0.05
IfsoilisdenseCGcan
actuallymakelooser.
Ifindoubt,consider
someshearbox(or
triaxial)testing
OrconsiderCPTtesting

-4
-5

Whatabouttheincreaseofmean
effectivestress?
meanstressincrease
shearing

Byfarthemostbangforyourbuckfromshearing

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Drainedvs.Undrained
contraction
Drainedloading

Undrainedloading+
consolidation

ModifiedfromKovacevicetal.,2000

DrainedorUndrained?

ALWAYSDRAINED!

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Practically InjectionRate
Typicalinjectionrateisontheorderof
2ft3/min.(|57litres/min)
Slowerratesmaybeneededforsensitive
applications.
Higherratesmaybeusedundercertain
conditions(butlikelyneedsadvanced
monitoringand/oranalysis).

CGMechanics InjectionRate
However,groutingathighinjectionrates
maybehardertocontrol.
Highinjectionratesmayproduceundrained
behavior.
Densificationisreducedsignificantly.
Injectionpressureisgreatlyincreased.

Ruleofthumb,8psi/min;1to2ft3/min.
| 55kPa;28to57litres/min

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CGMechanics InjectionRate
Injectionratesshouldbeslowenoughto
allowporepressuredissipationconsistent
withthesurroundingsoilspermeability
rate.=>successfulcompaction
Unbalancedinjectionratescanproduce
hydraulicfracturing.
Hydrofractureformationcanprecludethe
controlledintergranularshearing necessary
tosuccessfuldensification.

SoilstypessuitableforCG
Needthegrouttodisplacethegrout,not
permeateintothesoilsporespace

GRAVELUSUALLYNOTSUITABLE
Butlowmobilitygroutisgoodforfillingvoids

Needporepressurestodissipate.

CLAYSNOTSUITABLE,SILTS????

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Pressureatdepth
Thepressurethatmattersisthepressureat
groutinjection notatsurface
Measuringthiswillbecoveredindetailin
FieldAdvances
Simpler(althoughlessaccurate)approachis
theoffsetapproach

length

gauge
pressure

Atmospheric
pressure

Pressuredropdowngroutpipe=pressuredrop/length

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Design questionsbeforewestart
Isthesoilsuitable?(density,type)
Layering?
Nearbystructuresortopographychanges?

Designconsiderations
Layering?

fromByle(2000)

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Designconsiderations
Nearbystructures?
Buildingfoundations
Utilities

Topographychange?
Slope
Cliff

Effectofconfinement
veryloose

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Effectofconfinement
loose

Withconfinement
\ = +0.05
Very Loose Silty Sand
0.45
0.40

Initial Void Ratio

1 ft3 ( 0.03 m3)
2 ft3 (0.06 m3)
3 ft3 (0.09 m3)
4 ft3 (0.11 m3)
5 ft3 (0.14 m3)
7 ft3 (0.20 m3)

0.35
0.30
0.25
0.20
0.15
0

0.25

0.5

0.75

1.25

1.5

Radial Distance from Grouthole (m)

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withconfinement
\ = -0.10
Medium Dense Silty Sand
0.45
0.40

Initial Void Ratio

1 ft3 ( 0.03 m3)
2 ft3 (0.06 m3)
3 ft3 (0.09 m3)
4 ft3 (0.11 m3)
5 ft3 (0.14 m3)
7 ft3 (0.20 m3)

0.35
0.30
0.25
0.20
0.15
0

0.25

0.5

0.75

1.25

1.5

Radial Distance from Grouthole (m)

CGMechanics Confinement
Soildensificationmoreeffectiveifconfined
bystiffersoilzones,eitheraboveoradjacent
totheexpandinggroutmass.
Enablesdevelopmentofhigherlocal
stresses,forcingparticlesclosertogether
duringshear.
Importanceofdrilling/injectinginsequence
onagridpattern.

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Groutquantityestimate
Toreliablyestimategroutquantitiesyouneed
reliableinsitusoilproperties

Sadly,therereallyisnowayroundthis
Willthesoildilateorcontract?
Density
Layering

Needagoodlowmobilitygrout
Controlofinjection
Slowinjection
Remembersomeleakage

10 m

Proposed Building

8m

Plan
Layer 1: Dense sand
Layer 2: Fill
5m

Jd = 1360 kg/m3

Layer 3: Rock
Soil Profile

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Examplegroutvolumeestimate
calculation
Currentdensity(kg/m3)=1360
Targetdensity(kg/m3)=1700
Requiredreductioninvolume(%)| 20%
massofsoilremainsconstant
Mass=Volume*Density

1*1360=FinalVol*1700
FinalVol=0.80

Convenienttoassumeinitialvolume=1

1 0.8=0.2

Examplegroutvolumeestimate
calculation
Volumeofsoiltobegrouted(m2)=5*(8+10)*(10+10)=1800
Volumeofgrouttobeinjected(m2)=0.2*1800=360
Volumepermetredepth(m2)=360/5=72
Spacing=2.5m(usuallyabout2 3.5m)
Numberofholes| 18/2.5*20/2.5| 72
Groutperholepermdepth(m3)=360/(5*72)=1.
(radius=0.56m)

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Layoutoftheholes
row

row

row

row

row

Typicalspacing612ft(1.8 3.6m)

Confine

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Fillin

Rememberthecolumnswillmove

soneedtoroundupvolumes

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ControllingGroutInjection
(andthethingstowatch)
Pressurelimitatagiveninjectionrate
Theinjectionratematters!

Volumeofgroutlimit
Thisisusuallyquotedperstage

Monitormovements
Buildings,utilities,etc

Maximumliftatsurface
Raisingthegroundsurfacehaslittleeffectonthe
insitusoildensity(i.e.avoid!!)

Pointsforthecontract
Rememberyourepayingtohavethesoil
madedenser NOTtopumpgrout.
Soeither
Specifythefinalsoildensityandhowthisdensity
willbeconfirmed,or
SpecifyRATEaswellasvolumeandlimiting
pressureforrefusal

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Pointstotakeaway
Compactiongroutingworksbyshearingthe
soiltoveryhighstrains
Loosesoilsdensifyduringshearing(butdense
soilscanloosen)
Undrainedsoilsdontchangevolumeduring
shearing(soCGwontwork)
Compactiongroutingisnotdifficulttodesign,
butdoesneedagoodknowledgeofthesoil
andthesite

Thankyouforyourkindattention

The Presenters for the Compaction Grouting Consensus Guide Short Course, their employers, affiliates,
successors, and anyone acting under their authority disclaim any and all liability for any personal injury, property
damage, financial loss, or other damages of any nature whatsoever, including without limitation any direct,
indirect, special, exemplary, or consequential damages, resulting from any persons use of, or reliance on any and
all materials presented at the aforesaid short course, which is presented for information purposes only.

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