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Sealing and strengthening of the subsoil by grout injection is a major issue in the field of geotechnical engineering. One commonly applied method is jet grouting, which allows creating columns of grouted soil by eroding and mixing the in-situ soil with a thin cement suspension. A general difficulty linked with this method is in predicting the resulting column diameter and its material strength. In this paper, we illustrate the application of a newly developed non-destructive quality assurance tool used to determine the diameter of jet grout columns. This approach incorporates standard crosshole and downhole seismic measurements. To demonstrate its effectiveness, we tested the new approach within two-dimensional finite-difference numerical simulations. Additional field tests showed that this tool is also applicable in real site conditions. For this purpose, three jet grout columns were produced with different process parameters in a depth between 3 and 10 m. The evaluated diameters were within 1 and 1.5 m, slightly deviating from the previously predicted range by the jet grouting contractor. Moreover, we were able to detect the base of the columns at a 10-m depth with no significant difficulties. On the other hand, unsaturated, less compacted sands between the groundwater level and surface considerably affected the seismic data, hence complicating the detection of the top of the columns.
Innovative seismic and resistivity tools for determining the diameter of jet grouting columns
(2016)
Jet grouting is used for soil improvement, foundation support and groundwater low control all over the world. It is well accepted and subject of standardization in many countries. However, some issues with the method remain. As the grout columns are produced in the subsurface without visual control in an often inhomogeneous soil, the prediction of the column’s diameter is still a challenge. All methods applied so far have their limitations.
The approach presented in this study is twofold. At Colorado School of Mines a resistivity probe has been developed, which is pushed into the fresh grout directly after production. ERT sections are measured and inverted. Given some background information is available, the diameter of the columns can be evaluated.
At BAM the focus has been on post-production investigations using seismic borehole methods. After hardening of the concrete seismic waves are sent through the column downhole (sensors placed in a casing in the column’s axis, source on top) and crosshole (source and sensor in boreholes on opposite sides of the column). We have developed a scheme to evaluate the diameter of the column based on travel time measurements without calibration. As this method is eventually more time and cost intensive we assume its application mainly for test columns. These are casted and dug out for visual inspection to determine appropriate grouting parameters. Our method would replace the often very cost intensive visual inspection.
Both approaches have been tested at three test columns produced at BAM’s test site at Horstwalde, Germany and on an actual constructions site. Both methods have been in good agreement with the diameters predicted by the jet grouting contractors, which were confirmed in one case by mechanical measurements.
Jet grouting is a geotechnical method of ground improvement to increase shear strength and stiffness of soils. The method is typically used to construct in-situ geometries of grouted soil such as panels or columns. The diameter of grouted columns and its material strength depend on various process parameters and the subsurface soil properties. It is only vaguely possible to predict the final column diameter. Therefore, it is a general practice to excavate a test column and perform a visual examination. However, an excavation to control the in situ diameter is often impossible, especially under complex site conditions, such as a high ground water table. Therefore, as part of a research project, borehole seismic measurements (crosshole, downhole and tomography) were tested as a quality control to verify the extent of the column and to monitor the influence of the jet grout injection on the soil over time. The field surveys were conducted before and after the jet grouting process at different time intervals. The acquired seismic data show clear traveltime differences which allow the determination of the specific column depth and diameter. The tomogram measured in the natural soil and the tomograms of the measurements after the injection process were used to visualize the time dependent effects of the jet grout injection on the soil.
Implementation of soilcrete columns via jet grouting or deep soil mixing to stabilize problematic subsurface soils is common in underground construction. However, industry is faced with limited options to characterize column geometry and quality of the resulting soilcrete without excavation or destructive testing. Laboratory-scale experiments were conducted on simulated soilcrete columns using crosshole ultrasonic testing to evaluate the feasibility of acoustic tomography to characterize soilcrete geometry and quality. Data were acquired on multiple columns immediately after placement up to a curing time of 120 hours. Jet grout compressional wave velocity (VP) was estimated using a first arrival time approach and inverted to construct acoustic tomograms. Acoustic tomograms indicate that crosshole ultrasonic testing is able to characterize the changes in acoustic properties that result from jet-grout curing, locate contrasts between weaker/stronger regions in the jet grout, and estimate geometry of the column.