Estimating the groutability of granular soils: a new approach

This paper evaluates different parameters that affect the grouting of soil, and presents a new approach to predict the groutability of granular soil. An accurate prediction of the groutability of granular soils has always been complicated due to the effects of different soil parameters. We know that these parameters are the grain-size of soil and cement-based grouts, the relative density and fine contents of soil, the water/cement ratio of grout mixture and grouting pressure, which directly affect the groutability of soil media. However, the relative density, fine contents of soil, the water/cement ratio, and grouting pressure are seldom considered as the prediction of groutability. In order to study the effects of the parameters on groutability, an alternative empirical formula to estimate the groutability of granular soils is presented in this paper and supported by experimental results obtained from the grouted sand samples prepared with various relative densities. The newly developed approach will help for the more accurate prediction of the groutability in granular soils and may also be used to provide first-hand information about the groutability of soils. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.