Soil Mixing Stabilisation Success For Commonwealth Games Village Site
Colin Critchlow and Robert McGall, the Directors of ground remediation and soil stabilisation specialist Deep Soil Mixing Ltd were part of the team that completed a ground stabilisation project for client WH Malcolm and Glasgow City Council to drastically improve the stability of a 400-metre stretch of the River Clyde embankment.
Using a series of soil mixed cofferdams they were able to stop any progressive movement of the embankment and enable the construction of dwellings close to the river.
“The embankments of the river, located at the Commonwealth Games Village in Glasgow, had been progressively slipping into the river before we commenced on site,” says Colin Critchlow, Director at Deep Soil Mixing Ltd.
“By installing around fifty cofferdams adjacent to each other, at a sufficient depth and located near the river’s edge, we were able to stabilise the embankment and prevent further movement. This meant the earth close to the river was then sufficiently strong to support the construction of buildings on it.”
Cofferdams were installed to ensure the particular areas could be stiffened to prevent further slips occurring. Between 10 and 14 columns with a diameter of 1-2 metres were installed secant per cofferdam, each one mixed into an adjacent one to provide stability.
In total, approximately 50 cofferdams were installed next to each other. Each one had a depth of approximately between 8 and 12 metres and was placed approximately 10 metres from the edge of the River Clyde.
The soil mixing cofferdams stabilised the embankment and increased the load- bearing capabilities of the soil which allowed the building of houses on the site.
Colin Critchlow adds: “Our cofferdams provided a quicker, more cost-effective and longer lasting solution to the stability issue of this stretch of the River Clyde embankment, when compared to the alternative solution of piling.
“Despite the hydrology challenges faced by working so closely to a tidal-influenced river, we were able to move fast and work effectively in order to meet a crucial deadline.”
The soil mixing project on the Commonwealth Games Village site in Glasgow, was started in January and completed by the end of March.
“The whole team worked hard to complete the project on time, and worked well with the clients WH Malcolm and Glasgow City Council,” says Colin Critchlow.
“As a company and as individual engineers, we have a great deal of experience of column mixing to provide the correct consistency of soil for the particular site.
“Despite the challenges the river’s tide presented to us, we were able to install the cofferdams and successfully complete this project – on time and constructed to the correct standard needed for the building of dwellings close to the river.”
The project involved stabilising approximately 400 metres of the River Clyde embankment to stop it slipping into the river as well as enabling the stabilised soil to support the building works nearby.
