Numerical analysis of light-weight air foamed soils using dredged materials for soft ground improvement method

Abstract

This paper presents the results of a numerical investigation on applicability of lightweight air foamed soils (LWFS) for soft ground improvement, which are made by mixing dredged soils, cement, and air foam to reduce unit-weight and to increase compressive strength. The engineering properties of LWFS were comprehensively investigated based on the previous experimental tests. And three dimensional numerical models which reflect soft ground conditions were adopted to evaluate the applicability of LWFS compared to soft ground improvement methods such as SCP(Sand Compaction Piles) and DCM(Deep Cement Mixing Piles). A number of cases were analyzed using a stress-pore pressure coupled model. The results indicated that LWFS method enables to reduce settlement and lateral ground flow than SCP method and enable to reduce residual settlement than DCM method in the scope of this paper. Also it was revealed that such effects are affected by the properties of LWFS such as lightness, appropriate strength and stiffness and Poisson's ratio.