Compaction Techniques on Heterogenous Ground to Achieve the Exacting Specification Requirements with Suitable Verification Testing Procedures

Ground Improvement was required for adoptable roads profile below the designated Rights of Way as part of infrastructure and streetscape works for an urban development project over an area of 500,000 m2 in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi in United Arab Emirates, UAE. The site is heterogenous with low-lying coastal profiles consisting of marine and wind-blown aeolian deposits followed by medium to stiff silty and clayey deposits and mudstone causing unacceptable settlements in the past to roads and associated structures. Exacting specifications from client and consultant included various requirements in terms of achieving bearing capacity, overall stiffness of ground, friction angle, relative density, and mitigation of any liquefaction risk for site based on local codes and standards. As such an extensive soil investigation campaign comprising of Cone Penetration Testing, CPTs carried out to ascertain individual CPT profile each representing an equivalent area of 2,000 Sq.m. Critical part was the site characterization which in this case, soil classification according to Robertson, 2012 was utilized. Thus, ground improvement scheme was prepared using High Energy Impact Compaction, HEIC (depth < 2.5m), Rapid Impact Compaction, RIC (depth < 4m) and Dynamic Compaction, DC (depth < 8m) as required to meet the compaction criteria in conjunction with the general contractor. Post compaction Cone Penetration Tests, CPTs and load tests were further evaluated to demonstrate performance. Overall works included predesign, execution and post testing and design verification to show compliance to specification in line with contract requirements.