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Grouting in Soils

Grouting chapter in soil mechanics.

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Ritik Agarwal
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227 views15 pages

Grouting in Soils

Grouting chapter in soil mechanics.

Uploaded by

Ritik Agarwal
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Chapter 31 Grouting in Soils Injection of a slurry or a liquid solution into a soil or rock formation is termed as grouting. The injected ‘material is referred to as the grout or grout material. The process of grouting was developed primarily as a technique for making vertical seepage barriers beneath dams and hydraulic structures by injecting cement slurry into the void space of river bed material, typically sand-gravel, and of underlying disintegrated rock. Grouts that have cementing capability of course also contribute to increasing the strength of the formation that is grouted. Over the years, grouting has been extended to other types of soils, Since cement slurry could not permeate into voids of fine sands and silt, chemical grouts in liquid solution form were developed for application in such soils. The emphasis, over the years, continued to remain on injecting grout info the void space, However, in recent years, new grouting techniques have been developed, in which the grout displaces or replaces the soil and functions not only to inhibit flow of water through soil but also increase the strength of the deposit, 31.1 Types of Grouts Grouts can be broadly classified as suspensions, emulsions and solutions. Suspensions consist of small-sized solid particles dispersed in a liquid medium. These include cement grouts, that is, slurry of cement in water; soil-cement grouts consisting of a slurry of soil and cement in water; and Bentonite grouts comprising a slurry of Bentonite in water. Cement grouts are the most widely used and usually have water and cement in the ratio ranging from 10:1 to 2:1. Emulsions consist of colloidal droplets of liquid dispersed in a liquid medium; bituminous emulsions: fail in this category. Solutions are liquid homogenous molecular mixtures of two or more substances; chemical grouts such as sodium silicate solutions or acrylic resins are examples of solutions. They are fluid in the initial state and can be puriped into the soit and then after reaching the desired location in the soil mass they form a gel or set with time. i 31.2 Desirable Characteristics of Grouts grout are described in terms of five parameters: growtability, stability, setting time, ies of Properties ity. These parameters should exhibit the following characteristics: permanence, and toxici aa Ss Growing 10S 4g = 4 jesired location inthe sip. to reach the d , sty of te g10U 10 Fs igity and the suspended pari ' 1) Growtabilty: exPFESS? ease) Af ms the soil mass Themes rout ae a able to do so. the £ the tener I Tye prescribed a follows: _ defined and m ‘ato ae ered ad ts iu NF Ratio has been a tol) 7 Groutability Ratio= (p,, of grout) 7 jd state and not segregate into its itty: i ity of the ut to remain in a flu s id n0 a sbili feeiee es Me gable until it has reached is destination. Stability of clyrgy ements. t nore than that of a cement grout ui) Setting Time: isthe time it takes before the gr can cause difficulty inthe grout reaching its destinat ached away if seepage is occurring through the soil. Addi seting time as required. {v) Permanence: indicates the resistance the grout possesses against being displaced from test ‘roids with time, Cement grouts have greater permanence than Bentonite grouts which can get wast, away with time by seepage of water through the grouted zone. (0) Toxicity: is the capacity of the grout to contami it and of adversely affecting the health of workers handl wwe do not want toxic chemicals in the grout. Before a Consulting Geotechnical Engineer can specify a particular grout necessary to define the objectives for grouting and go through a process of ‘and designing. This is all the more important since it is not easy to quantitativel lof a grouting operation that has been completed. There is still a great deal of ‘art’ in out is usually ‘out sets into a cemented mass or gel, Barly ay yon and late setting can result inthe gow hig itives are used t0 retard or acoder inate the ground water coming in contact rt ing and injecting the grout into the si. to be used ata site, #8 careful experimen ly measure the ee routing: 31.3 Grouting Methods Grouting methods for soils are classified as: (i) permeation grouting : . §) Sapseeentcnpicion going enor spate! 208! i sion of grout in sol is done in @ manner that the arra the soil grits 5 ab a only the void space i illed by process of perme pee the sot Se eo rms eo 1) er 2 i g. 31.1(a). If, however, the process of injection di \n grouting i ‘ is termed as displacement grouting. Displacement Per displaces the soil grains, oe g is further divided into tW0 SY” fs namely, compaction grouting and soil fr ; Soil fracture gr : tick viscous paste-like slurry a high pressure bap Compaction grouting consists Of ih (c).On the other hand when a lean sluny of ter nes routed mass insolgane 31 e method i termed as sil fracture grouting, Tn yer ness, mass a8 depicted in a oe ‘another method the ial is inj in’ grout material is the soil mass in the form of a jet jet to form a groute the soi, partly mixing withthe remaining sei “ referred to as jet grouting or replacemen column as shown in Fi 0 cued cok 31. 1(e) by part Ceol '8 soil and also through displacing the soil. THs ™ ntlisplacement grouting, 548 Ground Engineering Grout in voids Grout in fissures (@) Permeation grouting in rocks (@) Permeation grouting in soils Root-like lenses of grout Grout bulb (c) Displacement (compaction) (@ Displacement (soil fracture) grouting grouting Jet Grouted column (6) Jet grouting Fig. 31.1 Different types of grouting methods 31.4 Permeation Grouting Cement grouts, Bentonite grouts and chemical grouts are used for permeation grouting as summari in Table 31.1. Chemical grouts are suitable for the maximum range of § Ppensive ge of brain sizes but they are Grouting in Soils 549 A Table 31.1 Permeation Grouting Tipe of Grout Constituents Ratio of Water 10 Grain Size Range ; Relative Cost Remarks Cement or Soil and Minimum | Permeability (k) for 1 which Applicable ‘Cement ‘Water and 21-1031 Gravel to coarse 25 Clay added to cement sands, Dyp 2 1.0 mm reduce cement (suspension) K>5 x 104 msec. content Bentonite Water and 4:1-10:1 Gravel to fine sands, 1 Cement added- Bentonite Dy 20.2 mm to increase (suspension) K>1x 10% msec. Permanence Chemical Silicates, - Gravel to coarse sill, 10-30 Some grouts acrylic resins, Dj 2 0.015 mm can contaminate others (solutions) k> 1x 10% m/sec. ground water Grout-hole spacing: 2-5 m. Grout pressure: Less than 25% of effective overburden stress. Cement grout not only fills the voids and reduces permeability but also sets with time and binds the soil grains together. As a consequence, the strength of the soil mass increases and its compressibility ‘ecreases, Sometimes cement in grout is replaced by clay to reduce cost. Solved Example 31.1 shows tow the quantity of cement required for a grouting operation is determined. Solved Example 31.2 ilusrates how we can determine the reduction in cost when cement is partly replaced by clay. When the objective of grouting is only to reduce permeability, Bentonite grouts can be used. However, the permanence of such grouts under high hydraulic gradients is questionable and often cement is added to the Bentonite to improve its permanence. Chemical grouts have potential for ground water contamination. Many chemical grouts that were in use in the 1970s were withdrawn because of their harmful effect on ground water. The new generation of chemical grouts are used extensively in coarse silts and sands. Permeation grouting is widely used for making vertical seepage barriers beneath hydraulic structures ‘shown in Fig, 31.2(a), It is also used for stabilization of soil around tunnels and shafts as depicted inFig. 31.2(b), Other uses include stoppage of seepage through joints of underground structures such ‘tunnel lining, basement wall etc. Grouted area —7 [corel Grout curtain —\y Alluvium Fissured rock Sound rock (a) Grout curtain beneath dam (b) Stabilisation of erown of tunnel with chemical grout Fig. 31.2 Applications of permeation grouting A 550. Gr und Engineering 31 fa Grouting Pressure To enable rapid permeation of grout slurry into the void spiice, a ‘ign injecting, tha eg bressure is desirable. It must not, however, cause the soil mass to be displa =o i the grout pressure has tobe limited 0a maximum permissible value. As rule of thn 10 25% of the effective overburden pressure atthe depth of grouting as indicated jn Table grouting pressure that wil euse sll to fracture can be determined analytically. Since pray grouting is relevant only in coarse grained soils we can take c” =O and f > 0, Let us consider Bsrouting is to be done in dry sand having a total unit weight of 7 and an angle of seating tess & g and focus at point A which is located at a depth of h below ground surface 2s strove Fig. 31.3(a). The failure envelope is shown in Fig. 31.3(b). At point A, the state of vertical and horizontal effective stress is as follows: Vertical effective stress = 0’, = y,h (major principle stress), and for soils in the ‘at rest’ condition, Horizontal effective stress = 0’, = Ky 7;h ( jr principle stress) a 0,¢>0 | — Point 4 (@) Grouting in sand (b) Mobr’s failure envelope Fig. 31.3 Maximum grout pressure The Mohr’s Circle corresponding to these conditions is r inject grout slurry at point A at a pressure, p,. the soil mass equal to the grout pressure. at point A are modified as follows: presented as ABC in Fig, 31.3(b). Let: The grout slurry gives rise to pressure in the wid AS a consequence, the effective stresses in the soil = Hh Py O',= Ky Hh py The Mohr’s Circle corresponding to the new stat As expected the diameter of the circle is unchany envelope. If the grout pressure is increased further, becomes tangent to the failure envelope as re verge of failure that is fracture, Let this grout Pam 'es of stress is represented as DEF in Fig ged and the circle has moved closer to th? the Mobr’s Circle will keep shitting to the tet wf Presented by GHL in Fig, 31.3(b). The sail is 98 I pressure be designated as the maxinnam grout pes i Grouting in Soils 551_A Fig. 31.3(b), we note that sin ¢’ = HM/OM, i.e. {Qh = Pom) = (Ko Yih Vth Dem) = (Ko ¥:h = Pyn)) (31.2) {sh = Pom) + (Ko Yih = Pym} q. 31.2 and solving for p, yields: 1+K, _ 1-K;, Pem = Yh ‘o 1K 31.3 a 7 al (31.3) The above expression allows us to compute the maximum permissible value of grout pres: Agferent coarse grained soils and for different depths. For example, for @’ = 30°, Ky = 0.5; Pem = 0.25 ¢, that isthe same as the rule of thumb. sure in 14.2. Grouting Technology ‘he plant and equipment required for permeation grouting using cement grout is shown in Fig. 31.4. ecu slury is prepared by mixing cement with water in a slow-speed paddle mixer followed by a high- seed agitator. A positive displacement pump (reciprocating or diaphragm type) is used for pumping fv slury into a grout supply line (pipe of 30 to 50 mm diameter) which transports the slurry under pesure to the point of injection in.the soil. The grout pipe is lowered into the grout hole that has trey been drilled to the grouting point. The annular space between the grout hole and grout pipe is seled and the grout slurry injected into the soil at the prescribed pressure. Packers, in the form of her cups or inflatable rubber seals, are used for sealing the annular space—see Fig, 31.4. Retum line Grout ——f materials Pressure gauge Leather Siow paddle Supply eat packer (high speed) Grout pipe Packer Grout hole Inflatable rubber packer Fig, 31.4 Grouting Plant for permeation grouting using cement grout Permeation grouting can be carried out as (a) single stage grouting, (b) descending stage grouting, ) ascending stage grouting or (d) sleeved pipe grouting. “Single Stage Grouting: When grouting as o be executed down toa shallow depth below ground Sic, say a fen metres, then the grout hole is drilled through the entire depth. The grout pipe is 33, acl insat oil w elon; Ger tur ually rey 1 Tien unde cons dA 81 imy see con: aco toc We at tt affec Tren requ A 552° Ground Engineering a inserted at the top of the hole, the annular space sealed and Grout pipe grouting executed under low pressure as shown in Fig. 31.5. : . Seal 2, Descending and Ascending Stage Grouting: For grouting to LK larger depths, grouting is executed in stages. In the descending stage grouting, drilling and grouting are executed alternatively in Grout hoe deg Stages of 3 to Sm in the downward direction as shown in Fig. to full depth 31.6, For each stage, as one goes deeper, one can use higher grout Pressure. Ascending stage grouting shown in Fig.31.7 is executed in a reverse manner. The grout hole is drilled to the full depth in Grout one operation. Subsequently the grout pipe is lowered to the deepest segment ofthe hole and the annular space sealed using a packer. Grouting is carried out at high pressure. Thereafter, the _ : ' grout pipe and the pacer is rained in stages of 3 t0 5m and the F8-31.5 Single stage grouting routing is done successively at higher elevations using lower pressures—see Solved Example 314 Ascending stage grouting has the advantage tat the dilig is all done in one go. In descending sa routing, one can use higher grout pressures as one moves to lower stages, not only because of gel Gcpth but also because the upper levels have ben gouted and the sil formation is more firm espe when grouts used ate of types that set and add to strength Drilling Grout A (stage 1) pipe Grouting insertion (stage 1) Mess Drilling Grout (stage 2) pipe S insertion Grouting (stage 2) prilling (stage?) Fig. 31.6 Descending stage grouting Grouting in Soils 553 = 4) Drilling 2A to full Grouting Grout Grouting depth pipe stage 2 pipe stage 3 raised raised Fig. 31.7 Ascending stage grouting Slotted aD Pipe Slotted Grout pipe ees) |e va | Rubber ]_, sleeve i on slot Bentonite- ‘cement seal @ © © @ Driling of Insertion of. Insertion of, Grouting rout hole slotted pipe ‘grout pipe in slotted pipe | 10 full depth Fig. 31.8 Grouting using sleeved pipe bel fact sua They bari 33.2 Tour we ec «i A 554 Ground Engineering pressure, The grout pressure bursts the temporary rubber sleeve as well as the cement-Bentonite seq ressure. The gi : ‘and the grout permeates into the adjoining soil. 31.4.3 Grouting Arrangements That permeation grouting is often used for making vertical seepage barriers beneath hydraule structures has already been highlighted in Fig. 31.2(a). This grouting arrangement is called curtain grouting. Typically, grouting is carried out to the required depth along 2 to 3 rows of grout holes. The grout holes in each row may be spaced at 2 to 4 m and staggered in plan along the rows. Grouting is first done in primary holes spaced 15-25 m apart followed by secondary holes at intermediate locations and then tertiary holes at 2~4 m spacing as shown in Fig, 31.9. range 0 31.2. TE 4s enous consiste routed when pe 3 rows of grouted holes Grout holes Grouted zone- between grout holes routing is first executed in pr at a grid spacin Grouting in Soils 588M ent-Bentonite seq) yeneath hydraulie i primary is called curtain f S-sceondary f grout holes, The cus e Tows. Grouting Grouted zone betvicen grout holes at intermediate & 31-10 Arrangement of grout holes for blanket grouting halt zr of 0.5 t0 7 ne formed. The grout material used is a mixture of soil and cement, see Table dail 2 The soil used in the grout has sufficient sand sized particles to develop internal ition 28 well jseough fine grained particles to provide plasticity to the grout, Water is added to yield a paste-like sistency ofthe grout. We need to use just enough cement so thatthe engineering properties ofthe P ssed mass are similar to or better than those othe natural soil in a compacted state. In some cases, sxe permanence is not an issue, cement need not be used at all and the grout can be just a soil slurry. Table 31.2 Displacement Grouting Type af Grout Soil Cement Constituents ———=—=—=—«S!_~=SCSCS =a silty sand with 15-30 percent fines Cement up t025 percent of soil Bentonite up 10 3 percent of cement + adjusted to yield slump of 25 to 75 mm Grou Hole Spacing Grow Pressure __Up so SOONA—AI_——__———_ iar to that for permeation grouting. However, since the routing and grout pressures are much higher, the grout Grout pipe diameters range from 50 to 75 mm. The from 3 to 12 percent by volume of the treated loose The technology of injection of grout is simil (Put mix is much stiffer than in permeation gt Used are heavy-duty concrete pumps. tity of grout injected is observed to range types of loose coarse arined sal, md fas i avities. It is not used in soft saturate ine 3

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