Methods used to improve the properties of soil or rock and increase their bearing capacity.
Soil mechanics: The study of soil properties, behavior, and interaction with structures.
Geotechnical investigation: The process of evaluating subsurface soil and rock conditions.
Ground improvement methods: Techniques used to modify soil to increase bearing capacity, stability, or reduce settlement.
Soil stabilization: Techniques used to increase the strength and durability of soil.
Compaction: The process of increasing the density of soil through mechanical means.
Consolidation: The process by which soil settles and compresses due to the weight of overlying structures.
Grouting: The process of injecting a specialized material into soil to improve its stability and strength.
Deep foundations: Techniques used to transfer the load of structures to deeper, more stable soil layers.
Slope stabilization: Methods used to increase the safety and stability of slopes, hillsides, and embankments.
Ground improvement materials: Materials such as geotextiles, geogrids, and geocells that are used to improve soil properties and protect against erosion.
Vibro compaction: This technique involves densifying and reinforcing loose soil by inserting a vibrator into the soil to compact it. The vibration of the compactor reduces the air voids and increases the density of the soil.
Grouting: It is a process of injecting a cementitious material, i.e., grout, into the ground to fill voids or to consolidate soil around a structure, improving the soil’s strength and load-bearing capacity.
Deep Soil Mixing: This technique involves the mechanical mixing of soil with cement, lime, or other binding agents to create a homogeneous soil-cement mixture with improved strength, stiffness, drainage, and compressibility.
Jet Grouting: This technique forms soil columns by injecting high-pressure grout into the ground in a circular pattern using a specialized jet nozzle, creating a reinforcement for the soil.
Soil Stabilization: The process of adding stabilizing agents to the soil to enhance the soil’s strength and durability, such as adding lime, fly ash, or cement to clay-based soil.
Geosynthetics: This involves using synthetic materials such as geotextiles, geogrids, or geocells to reinforce existing soil, prevent erosion or stabilize slopes.
Prefabricated Vertical Drains (PVD): A technique used to expedite drainage in quicksand and peat soils. In this process, vertical drains, such as plastic or geotextile tubes, are installed in the soft soil.
Dynamic Compaction: A process in which an impact load is applied repeatedly on the ground surface, causing the soil to densify and creating a stronger foundation.
Stone Columns: A technique used in soft soils for ground improvement where compacted stone columns are constructed, providing increased bearing capacity and reduced settlement risk.
Vibro-replacement: This ground improvement technique uses a vibratory probe to install enlarged columns of soilcrete (Cemented mixture of granular material and cement) material, providing improved bearing capacity in the soil.