84 91 g14195 Jemy April 2025 128
84 91 g14195 Jemy April 2025 128
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ISSN: 2186-2982 (P), 2186-2990 (O), Japan, DOI: https://doi.org/10.21660/2025.128.g14195
Geotechnique, Construction Materials and Environment
*Jemy C. Chua1, Naoaki Suemasa2, Kazuya Itoh3, Takamitsu Sasaki4 and Koichi Nagao5
1,2,3
Graduate School of Integrative Science and Engineering, Tokyo City University, Japan
4
Kyokado Engineering Co. Ltd., Japan; 5Sato Kogyo Co. Ltd., Japan
*Corresponding Author, Received: 27 Jan. 2025, Revised: 05 Feb. 2025, Accepted: 10 Feb. 2025
ABSTRACT: Earthquakes worldwide raise significant concerns, particularly in densely populated areas. In the
field of geotechnical engineering, the persistent challenge of liquefaction demands attention. Soil liquefaction is
an event where the surrounding soil loses its strength and behaves like a liquid when shear stress is experienced.
Permeation grouting is a method of ground improvement that is compact and not destructive. It achieves
densification and solidification of the ground by permeating grout solution at low pressure. Conventionally,
solution-type grouts or cement-type grouts are used. However, the study proposes the use of alternative materials
to help reduce waste and carbon footprint of the grout. The mixture used in the study was a suspension-type grout
composed of blast furnace slag and calcium carbonate powder, activated by sodium hydroxide. To quantify the
feasibility of the grout formula for permeation grouting, several preliminary analysis and permeation tests were
done. The results demonstrated that the grout mixture effectively developed sufficient strength for liquefaction
control while maintaining low permeation pressure. Although clogging can occur with suspension-type grouts,
adjusting variables such as injection rate and implementation of two-stage permeation mitigated negative effects.
Optimization allowed the grout mixture to achieve a permeation radius of 0.8 meters during the one-dimensional
test, slightly exceeding the ideal range of 0.75 meters. Subsequent two-dimensional and preliminary centrifuge
modeling tests confirmed that filtration of grout particles in the soil occurred, and that alkali-activated grout could
serve as a viable alternative for permeation grouting.
Constant seismic activity results in a considerable One of the greatest features of permeation
number of earthquakes. Soil liquefaction is a grouting lies in its simplicity. The concept of this
phenomenon in which the strength and stiffness of a method is to permeate grout solution into the ground
soil are reduced to the point where the soil can no using a pump and a nozzle that is inserted
longer support loads. Effective stress in soil means a underground as shown in Fig.1. Along with this,
summation of granular contact forces, when total administration of the grout solution uses relatively
stress from soil and pore water pressure reaches low pressure that limits noise and impact to the
equilibrium, liquefaction happens [1]. Fine sandy soil ground. This means that the initial bearing capacity of
profiles with low cohesion strength are the most the soil will not be affected during the permeation
susceptible soil types. There are several ways to deal process, allowing improvement of ground even with
with liquefaction, physical ways like compacting or structures built above. As a non-destructive soil
through chemical solidification. Cement has caught a improvement technique which only utilizes simple
lot of attention to be used as a reinforcement material and compact machinery, it is beneficial in urban areas
for its versatility and ease of use. Though being a very where infrastructures are abundant, and space is not
good material, it emits harmful emissions through its readily available.
production. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change (IPCC) estimated that emissions must be
reduced by 60% to prevent substantial climate change
[2]. Constant effort must be made to reduce emissions.
Ground improvement is a branch of geotechnical
engineering that deals with altering the properties of
a soil to meet the required parameters. Regarding
liquefaction, the topsoil layer is the most treated
portion of the ground as this is where most
liquefaction occurs. A technique that combines both Fig. 1 Permeation grouting concept
physical and chemical improvement is permeation
grouting.
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A two-stage permeation process was performed in subjected to compression tests. Results demonstrated
the permeation experiment. The first stage consisted that low flowrates tend to have increased strength in
of only BS and CaCO3, and the second stage was the the area near the injection port and less further up the
alkaline solution. The pozzolans and the activator soil, while higher flows tend to have lower strength in
were split into two different permeation phases to the bottom portion but higher in the upper portion.
prevent any premature activation of the material This indicated that higher flowrates had a higher
during the duration of permeation. Another benefit of penetration that resulted in better permeation radius.
having a separate alkaline solution permeation is the Some samples broke upon demolding, making it
ability to properly compute for the minimum required unsuitable for testing.
amount of alkaline solution. This lessens the overuse In permeation grouting, a balance between
of alkaline solutions that may be detrimental to the injection pressure, grout retained, and strength
environment. developed is needed. Considering the variables,
The result of the injection pressure to the grout 100mL/min was deemed to be the optimal flowrate as
volume injected can be observed in Fig. 6. The this offered the best pressure profile and considerable
sudden drop of pressure around 2 liters marked the developed strength. Apart from the flowrate, Fig. 8
end of the first stage and the start of the second stage. shows a similar pattern of 0.5M solution developing
Low flow rates showed erratic pressure profile while a higher strength was observed.
higher flow rates showed lower and smoother
pressure profile.
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adjusted to 150mL/min to increase distribution and insight into how the grout flows within the soil strata
efficiency. It was assumed that it did not contribute to and how this affects the surrounding ground.
clogging and the increased flow provided better For the two-dimensional permeation test, a flat-
distribution of the grout particles. box type aluminum apparatus was used. The inner
box dimensions were 36cm wide by 41cm deep with
a thickness of 5cm. Inside the box was an acrylic
mold that had a circular form with a diameter of 30cm
to contain the soil sample for permeation grouting.
The reason for the circular form as opposed to the
typical rectangular shape was for the ease of drainage.
Essentially, having a circular dimension simulates an
infinite drainage dimension with minimal influence
of the boundaries. Differentiating from normal
rectangular shape, having a circular form means that
Fig. 10 Long-type permeation pressure profile the thickness of soil is equal from the port to the
drainage area. Drainage holes, for expelling liquid
After curing inside the apparatus for 7 days, the outside the container, were located at the top-portion
samples were carefully de-molded and cured with an of the container. By allowing water to drain from the
additional 21 days in ambient temperature with high container, the water level can be maintained.
humidity, shown in Fig. 11. After a total of 28 days The nozzle for permeation was installed in the
of curing, the samples were subjected to unconfined center of the circular soil sample seen in Fig. 13-14.
compression tests and results tallied in Fig. 12. Based It had several openings to enable permeation in all
on the strength developed, the grout was able to directions. In the acrylic inner box, silica sand #6 was
penetrate about 90cm from the injection port. With up used which had the same relative density of 60%.
to 80cm part developing strength enough for Surrounding the sand was a steel mesh that helps
liquefaction control, which is above 100kPa. This separate the sand from the gravel layer. A water
meant that the grout mixture successfully permeated pressure sensor was installed between the injection
up to 0.8m, slightly exceeding the ideal permeation port and the pump.
range of 0.75m.
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Fig. 15 Grout after 1st stage (left) & 2nd stage (right) Fig. 17 Tokyo City University Mark III Centrifuge
With a separate second stage, the amount of 5.1 20G Permeation Test
alkaline solution needed for the treated area can be
estimated depending on the targeted volume. Upon For accurate testing of grout permeation in actual
completion of the grouting process, the alkaline stress conditions, centrifuge modeling was
solution (blue) was observed to cover almost the same performed. However, permeation grouting under
volume as the volume occupied by the grout particles centrifuge field has yet to be evaluated whether it is
(white). This way, excess alkaline can be minimized, feasible or not. To check for the feasibility of
saving on costs and preventing alkaline pollution or permeation grouting under a higher gravitational
leakage to the surrounding ground. Checking for acceleration, preliminary testing was done,
alkaline pollution resulting from permeation, pH tests substituting the grout formula with water only.
within and around the treated area were done after 7 Similar to the 1G test, this aims to observe the
days of curing. From Fig. 16, it can be concluded that permeation shape of injected fluid to the soil sample.
minimal alkaline pollution happened after permeation Along with visual analysis, various mini water
grouting, showing little to no change of pH outside pressure sensors labelled as 1, 2, 3.1, 3.2, and 3.3
the treated area. Sand is naturally slightly alkaline in were also installed around the injection port as shown
nature, so it was expected that the pH level of the in the diagram in Fig. 18. Data obtained from the
untreated zone to be around 8 to 9. sensors helps understand the pressure changes
happening during permeation.
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Similar soil conditions were used for the setup of 2, recorded less water pressure. Comparing sensors
the apparatus. During the saturation phase however, 3.1, 3.2, and 3.3, sensor 3.1 recorded the highest value
blue water was used to saturate the sample. The among the three and was attributed to its proximity to
reason why blue water was used for saturation and not the injection port. As the distance increases, the
for permeation was because only clear water was pressure also dissipates. This meant that the
permitted to enter the centrifuge device to prevent any permeation pressure is inversely related to the
future difficulties arising from using colored water. distance and affected by grout flow.
Using colored water for saturation and clear water for
permeation gave the same visual result as the 1G test.
The acceleration set for the test was 20 times the
gravitational force, 20G. The estimated maximum
bulb diameter of an improved area in a real-world
scale was 3 meters. Using the scaling law of linear
dimensions (1/n), n being the gravitational
acceleration, a prototype of 3 m diameter can be
scaled to just 15 cm diameter in the scale model [10].
The centrifuge platform gradually spun and raised
Fig. 20 Water pressure under centrifuge field
sideways until 20G was reached. Confirming
everything was stable, permeation commenced. The
permeation continued until the desired 15cm diameter Table 1 Water pressure during permeation (kPa)
was achieved. The resulting permeated area is Sensor 1 2 3.1 3.2 3.3 Port
highlighted in Fig. 19. The egg-shaped permeated Before 25.4 39.1 23.0 28.7 33.3 27.5
area can mean that in increased acceleration During 27.4 41.0 25.0 30.7 35.1 29.4
environment, the uncovered top-portion of the soil Change 2.09 1.84 1.95 1.90 1.80 1.92
sample played a significant role. The small variation
in soil thickness was multiplied by the increased 6. CARBON STORAGE
acceleration, leading to a noticeable difference in the
effective flow resistance of the soil layer. With a One of the problems towards sustainability is the
lower resistance on the top portion, the permeated continuous increase in carbon emissions. To aid the
liquid flowed towards it. This was not as apparent health of the environment, alternative materials were
during the 1G test, and confirming this phenomenon investigated for their potential. In terms of
under centrifuge conditions contributed to better permeation grouting, substituting conventional use of
understanding of the flow characteristics. cement to slag and calcium carbonate, a greener grout
formula can be formulated. Using the proposed ratio
and concentration, an approximate quantity of carbon
emission can be made. Calcium carbonate contains a
carbon dioxide molecule, by incorporating into the
ground, a carbon storage system can be realized.
From the calculations made in Table 2, a net emission
of 1.1kg was expected in improving 1 cubic meter of
soil. Comparatively, cement usage emits about 50kg
to 180kg of CO2, depending on the amount used.
Fig. 19 20G Permeation test and highlight
Table 2 Carbon emissions per 1m3 calculation
The pressure profile obtained from the sensors is
plotted in Fig. 20, and data tallied in Table 1. The Amount Emission Total
gradual rise of the pressure was the acceleration of the Parameter
(kg) (kg CO2/kg) (kg CO2)
centrifuge equipment. Upon reaching 20G, each BS 44.13 0.040 1.765
sensor had a different value because of the NaOH 8.830 0.625 5.516
positioning of the sensors within the soil. A shift in CaCO3 (P) 44.13 0.300 13.239
flow due to the commencement of permeation, at CaCO3 (S) 44.13 -0.440 -19.417
around 1000s, was detected by the sensors, - Net emission per 1m3 1.103
registering a rise in pressure. Looking at Table 1, the Note: in CaCO3, P – Production; S – Storage
largest value recorded was from the water sensor
located above the injection port. This varied from the 7. DISCUSSION
anticipated pressure readings as sensors 1, 2, and 3.2
were expected to have the same pressure readings. The proposed grout mixture was able to achieve
The difference may be caused by the variation in flow satisfactory performance as per the permeation tests.
since most of the permeated water flowed upwards As several factors influence the overall strength and
towards sensor 1. In contrast, the bottom one, sensor permeation radius in grouting, exact comparison
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