Pervious Concrete Pile: An Innovation Ground Improvement Alternative

摘要

Granular piers are commonly used to improve the mechanical properties and allow for consolidation and drainage of soft clays, silts, and loose sands. The response of granular piers; however, depends on confining stress provided by the surrounding soil, which limits their use in very soft clays, silts, and organic and peat soils. If a material has higher stiffness and strength with properties independent of surrounding soil, and adequate permeability, it will be more suitable to improve sites with poor soil conditions. This research focuses on developing an innovative ground improvement method using pervious concrete piles. A series of laboratory tests were conducted to evaluate the properties of pervious concrete material. Furthermore, large-scale vertical load tests have been conducted to compare the response of a granular pier with a pervious concrete pile and to compare the response of pervious concrete piles installed using two different methods (one with precast pile and the other using a method simulating in-situ or field installation techniques). This paper summarizes the results of the material tests and the preliminary vertical load tests.