Problems Associated With The Use of Compaction Grout For Sinkhole
Problems Associated With The Use of Compaction Grout For Sinkhole
Second, once movement starts it may continue for wrong such as damage to the home, grout deposited in
a period because of pressure in the formation. Third, a neighboring property or settlement sometime after
when movement occurs, even if it stops when pumping completion of remediation is the grouting procedure
is stopped, it may be too late, the building can be questioned. By that time it is too late to correct the
immediately damaged. problem; all that can be done is deal with the difficulty and
conclude that this is one of the shortfalls of compaction
These problems, in many cases, pale relative to the grouting. The delay in determining if the grouting was
greatest impetus to increase grout flow rates, to the successful is a concern for all and is minimized by the
highest possible rate. This is the increased cost for procedures discussed.
pumping grout at low flow rates. The lower flow
rate increases the time required to complete the Recommended Methods of
grouting hence labor and equipment costs increase Resolving Grout Flow Problems
for the grouting contractor and for inspection. A solution to the dichotomy of cost verses compaction
Costs for supply of grout also increase because of grout quality that considers both technical and economic
the increased time to use the grout. Typically, most factors is to determine the critical flow rate at which
contracts adhere to ASTM C94 requirements for hydraulic fracturing occurs in soft soil areas. This is done
discharge of the concrete within a 1½ hour period by increasing the flow rate until a decrease in grouting
from batch to placement. If this time is exceeded pressure occurs (presumed to be the onset of hydraulic
the concrete cannot be used. This means that instead fracturing of the soil). The procedure is performed in
of the grout supplier providing 10 cubic yard trucks known areas of soft soil found in existing borings or at the
they must deliver grout in 5 cubic yard trucks. This location of soft soil conditions found in the newly installed
obviously decreases the supplier’s efficiency and grout holes. The production flow rate is determined based
therefore increases cost. on a value of 90% of the flow rate that causes a decrease
in pressure or in any area where an increasing flow rate
A significant part of the grouting procedure is that no results in a decrease in pressure. In other areas, with
one actually sees the completed product—it is unseen different soil properties, a flow rate of 5 to 7 cubic feet per
below the ground surface. Only when something goes minute (0.142 to 0.198 cubic meters per minute) is used.
Conclusions
It has been discussed that: