Ground Improvement​
Committee Initiatives
Contents
Completed Committee Project Fund Awards
Liquefaction Mitigation Synthesis Report
Survey and synthesis of liquefaction mitigation practices including selection and implementation of ground improvement techniques.
$15,000
Lateral loading of unreinforced rigid elements and basal stability of column-supported systems
Conducting 3D finite element analyses to evaluate lateral loading of unreinforced rigid elements and basal stability of column-supported systems, calibrated to a real life MSE project.
$33,380
Specifications
Guidance for developing effective and appropriate specifications for various ground improvement technologies.
Guidance for Drafting Specifications for Ground Improvement
The Ground Improvement Committee developed this guidance to provide owners, agencies, designers and specifiers with a minimum framework for preparing specifications for ground improvement work. The framework is intended to provide a consistent structure that is technology-neutral to allow for the best application of technology to the project needs.
Wick Drain Guide Specification (Method)
Wick drains, also known as prefabricated vertical drains, PVDs, PV Drains, and band drains, are light-weight, flexible geocomposite drains that are inserted into the ground primarily for purposes of enhancing or altering drainage in subsurface layers. The most common use of wick drains is to accelerate consolidation in fine-grained, slow-draining layers. This specification is provided as a Word document that can be tailored to project-specific conditions.
Rigid Inclusions Task Force​
Discussing aspects of design and performance of rigid inclusions as ground improvement.
- Dr. Juan Baez – Chair
- Dr. Lisheng Shao
- Ms. Sonya Swift
- Mr. Ravi Vedantham
- Dr. Terry Holman
- Mr. Tim Siegel
Ongoing Research
Seismic Performance of Rigid Inclusions – Phases I and II
Oregon State University, Prof. Armin Stuedlein, Ph.D., P.E.
Development of a Simplified Methodology to Evaluate the Factor of Safety for Basal Stability and the Magnitude of Lateral Spreading for CSEs Supported on Rigid Inclusions (Phase II)
Prof. Aaron Gallant, Ph.D., P.E.
Reinforcing Mechanisms of Soil-cement Columns in Liquefiable Sand Underneath an Embankment During Strong Earthquake Loading
Montana State University, Prof. Mohammad Khosravi, Ph.D.
Codification Standards
Members serving on ASCE/SEI committee for developing a foundations standard, including a new ground improvement standard.
NHI Ground Improvement Partnership
Partnership with FHWA to deliver ground improvement courses to departments of transportation and industry with accelerated project delivery.