2013-10. LaBrozzi - Support of MSE Walls & Embankments Using Controlled Modulus Columns

STGEC Baton Rouge, LA
December 2013
Controlled Modulus Columns (CMCs)

Support for Mechanically Stabilized Earth Walls
MNDOT I-35
MassDOT - CSX
NJDOT I-78
NJDOT SR 17
PennDOT Engle Rd GSP Bass River
NJDOT I-295 GSP Mullica River
NJDOT Rt. 52
Geographical Presence in North America
WVDOT DH Bridge
GSP Egg Harbor
VDOT Erickson Ave Ext.
TNDOT I-55
TXDOT I-35
Miami Dade Expressway
STGEC Baton Rouge 2013

Support of MSEW with CMC Ground Improvement
What is ground improvement?
The Deep Foundations Institute (DFI) defines it as:
the application of special foundation techniques to

improve in-situ shear strength, stiffness or density
and drainage characteristics of a soil mass.
Usually, it involves economical and/or time-saving design and construction

techniques for supporting structures on compressible soil strata
For most projects the objective is settlement control or bearing capacity

Use of CMC for Support of MSE Walls
What is a Controlled Modulus Column?
Rigid inclusions ( grout )
Displacement tool
Virtually no spoils or vibration
Share of load between soil and columns
High production rates
Depths up to 110 (single stroke)
Typically an alternate to: ACIPs, stone

columns, VCCs, driven piles, RAPs, etc.

APPLICABILITY OF CMCS
Treatable Soil Types Suitable Construction
soft clays & silts industrial, residential,

commercial and retail buildings
controlled & uncontrolled fill bulk storage tanks
material (including landfills)
embankments & MSE Walls
contaminated sites & utilities and pipelines
Brownfields large storage slabs
peat & other organics roadways, culverts and bridge
abutments
loose sand & gravel wind turbines

Use of CMC for Support of MSE Walls

Controlled
Modulus
Columns

Backhoe or bobcat for
low cutoff & platform maint.
CMC Drill Rig
Ready mix truck
Concrete Pump STGEC Baton Rouge 2013

Comparison: Piles vs. CMCs

Uniform Load ( MSE Wall / Embankment )
Load Transfer by Arching

LOAD Load Transfer by Arching
TRANSFER
PLATFORM
5 to 30% of load on soil
Limited settlement Load Transfer

Load Transfer by skin friction
by skin
friction
Controlled
CONTROLLED
MODULUS
Modulus 70 to 95% of load in CMC 70 to 95% of load in CMC
COLUMNS
Columns

STANDARD DESIGN METHODS
Plaxis finite element software

2D axisymmetric models
2D plane strain models
Global 3D models
SLIDE (and others) slope/global stability software
SHAKE earthquake & seismic evaluation software
LPILE (structural analysis for shear & bending)
In-house footing analysis and CMC design programs
Traditional deterministic analyses

STANDARD DESIGN METHODS

QUALITY CONTROL
Controlled
Modulus
Columns

Controlled
Modulus
Columns

DESIGN CASE HISTORIES
1. Erickson Ave. Connector Harrisonburg, VA
CMC support of double-sided MSEW
2. Bass River Bridge Bass River, NJ
CMC support of complex MSEW project for NJDOT
3. Elba Island Containment Dike Savannah, GA
CMC support of MSEW containment dike at LNG facility

CMC Case History: Erickson Avenue Harrisonburg, VA
Project Summary
New roadway & bridge structure built on MSEW

Wall loads close to 5 ksf at max wall height (36ft)
CMC alternate to EPS blocks, piles and CIP walls

Erickson Avenue Connection Harrisonburg, VA





STGEC Baton Rouge 2013 24
STGEC Baton Rouge 2013 25
CMC CASE HISTORY Bass River Bridge, New Jersey
Project Summary
Roadway widening project along a 1-mile (1.6 km) stretch of the NJ Turnpike
MSE embankments to be used for approaches on both sides of a new bridge
CMCs used to control settlement and improve stability beneath MSEW

Project Challenges
Max wall height of 40 Two working bench elevations
Shallow layer of organics Target long-term settlement 2/1
Stability concerns Tight construction schedule

Soil Profile
Loose Sand
N_avg = 7
Organic Silt & Clay

N_avg < 5
Medium Sand
N_avg < 15
Dense Sand
N_avg > 25

Construction Staging
Cut slope to lower working pad
Install temporary sheeting, lower

working pad
Install CMCs for lower wall
Backfill lower wall to upper bench

elevation
Install CMCs for upper wall
Backfill upper wall to roadway

elevation
Finish grade, place pavement

NJ TURNPIKE - MULLICA RIVER BRIDGE
Mullica River
Typical section
Soil Profile with Geometry

3D Model Plan View Slice Through Entire Embankment

Plaxis Results

Results of Calibration Models for Varied CMC Spacings

R&D Program CMC Supported MSEW







CMC CASE HISTORY Elba Island Containment Dike
Project Summary
CMC support of 0.75 mile-long containment dike at LNG facility
15 tall double-sided MSEW used to form the dike
CMCs used to control settlement and maintain stability during seismic event

Project Challenges
Difficult soil conditions soft clay underlain by liquefiable sand
Very strict seismic design criteria set forth by FERC
Complex FEM modeling to be used to determine system response

TYPICAL SOIL BORINGS


3D PLAIN STRAIN MODEL

PLOT OF SETTLEMENT PROFILE

PLAN VIEW OF SETTLEMENT ACROSS DIKE SECTION

EFFECT OF SEISMIC FORCES ON DESIGN

EFFECT OF SEISMIC FORCES ON DESIGN

THANK YOU
Any
Questions?

2013-10. LaBrozzi - Support of MSE Walls &amp; Embankments Using Controlled Modulus Columns

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STGEC Baton Rouge, LA

Controlled Modulus Columns (CMCs)

VDOT Erickson Ave Ext.

Miami Dade Expressway

STGEC Baton Rouge 2013

What is ground improvement?

The Deep Foundations Institute (DFI) defines it as:

the application of special foundation techniques to

Usually, it involves economical and/or time-saving design and construction

For most projects the objective is settlement control or bearing capacity

STGEC Baton Rouge 2013

What is a Controlled Modulus Column?

Rigid inclusions ( grout )

Virtually no spoils or vibration

Share of load between soil and columns

High production rates

Depths up to 110 (single stroke)

Typically an alternate to: ACIPs, stone

STGEC Baton Rouge 2013

Treatable Soil Types Suitable Construction

soft clays & silts industrial, residential,

STGEC Baton Rouge 2013

STGEC Baton Rouge 2013

STGEC Baton Rouge 2013

CMC Drill Rig

Ready mix truck

Concrete Pump STGEC Baton Rouge 2013

STGEC Baton Rouge 2013

Load Transfer by Arching

5 to 30% of load on soil

Limited settlement Load Transfer

STGEC Baton Rouge 2013

Plaxis finite element software

SLIDE (and others) slope/global stability software

SHAKE earthquake & seismic evaluation software

LPILE (structural analysis for shear & bending)

In-house footing analysis and CMC design programs

Traditional deterministic analyses

STGEC Baton Rouge 2013

STGEC Baton Rouge 2013

STGEC Baton Rouge 2013

STGEC Baton Rouge 2013

1. Erickson Ave. Connector Harrisonburg, VA

CMC support of double-sided MSEW

2. Bass River Bridge Bass River, NJ

CMC support of complex MSEW project for NJDOT

3. Elba Island Containment Dike Savannah, GA

CMC support of MSEW containment dike at LNG facility

STGEC Baton Rouge 2013

New roadway & bridge structure built on MSEW

STGEC Baton Rouge 2013

STGEC Baton Rouge 2013

STGEC Baton Rouge 2013

STGEC Baton Rouge 2013

STGEC Baton Rouge 2013

STGEC Baton Rouge 2013

MSE embankments to be used for approaches on both sides of a new bridge

CMCs used to control settlement and improve stability beneath MSEW

STGEC Baton Rouge 2013

Max wall height of 40 Two working bench elevations

Shallow layer of organics Target long-term settlement 2/1

Stability concerns Tight construction schedule

STGEC Baton Rouge 2013

2013-10. LaBrozzi - Support of MSE Walls & Embankments Using Controlled Modulus Columns

2013-10. LaBrozzi - Support of MSE Walls & Embankments Using Controlled Modulus Columns