Study on Vertical Bearing Capacity of Pile Foundation with Distributed Geopolymer Post-Grouting on Pile Side

Abstract

To study the applicability of the new geopolymer grouting material for super-long and large-diameter post-grouting bored piles in silty fine sand geology, this paper compares the bearing capacity of two grouting materials, geopolymer and normal Portland cement, and different grouting volume pile side-distributed grouting piles in silty fine sand based on field model tests are analyzed through the diffusion forms of the two materials in silty fine sand through the morphology of the grouted body after excavation. The results show that the ultimate bearing capacities of P0 (ungrouted pile), P1 (8 kg cement grouted pile), P2 (6 kg geopolymer-grouted pile), P3 (8 kg geopolymer-grouted pile) and P4 (10 kg geopolymer-grouted pile) are 5400 N, 8820 N, 9450 N, 11,700 N and 12,600 N, respectively, and that the ultimate bearing capacity of the grouted pile is improved compared with that of the ungrouted pile since, under the same grouting amount, the maximum bearing capacity of the pile using geopolymer grouting is increased by 133% compared with that of the pile with cement grouting. This further verifies the applicability of the geopolymer grouting material for the post-grouting of the pile foundation in silty fine sand. Under the action of the ultimate load, the pile side friction resistance of P1, P2, P3 and P4 is increased by 200%, 218%, 284% and 319% compared with that of P0. In addition, the excavation results show that the geopolymer post-grouting pile forms the ellipsoidal consolidation body at the pile side grouting location, which mainly comprises extrusion diffusion with a small amount of infiltration diffusion, and the cement grouting pile forms a sheet-like consolidation body at the lower grouting location, which primarily comprises split diffusion. This study can provide a reference basis for the theoretical and engineering application of post-grouting piles using geopolymers.