The Benefits Of Deep Soil Mixing VS Traditional Ground Improvement Methods
The construction industry relies heavily on ground improvement techniques to improve soil properties, immobilise contaminants in the ground, improve the bearing capacity and enable the achievement of endless project goals within this vibrant sector as ground is stabilised for construction. Without these methods, the construction sector would be massively restrained and restricted.
With the recent announements from Chancellor Rachel Reeves, that 1.5 million homes need to be built on brownfield and greyfield sites over the next five years, the need for more sustainable and cost effective ground improvement solutions becomes critical. In 2024 we should not be excavating and removing material from site to landfill. This is just moving the problem elsewhere. We should be treating the soil in-situ.
So which method is best?
Undoubtedly, every ground improvement technique has its own strengths and weaknesses. However, the method of deep soil mixing whether mass mixing or incorporating soil mixed columns in construction developments provides many more advantages compared to the more traditional ground improvement choices.
Advantages of Deep Soil Mixing
Mass soil mixing and column mixing provide flexibility as they increase bearing capacity, immobilise contaminates, stabilise, and alter the properties of soil and, as a result, can be used for numerous purposes. From enabling weak soil to be improved for use in foundation work through to containing and reusing contaminated land for various purposes, soil mixing has numerous advantages.
Advantages of deep soil mixing include:
- Reduced construction time
Little or no excavation of soil is needed as most soil classifications are mixed to the required depth and with the tested binder to create the desired consistency for the project. - Reduced costs
The method is efficient and effective, keeping overall construction costs down. - Reduced carbon footprint
Soil mixing is better for the environment as no soil has to be taken off-site using large vehicles and equipment, cutting down on the energy expenditure of the work and its carbon impact. As the soil is mixed for improvement rather than replaced, there is minimal spoil or wastage. - Soil mixing is also excellent for stabilising peat.
- Improved health and safety – With soil mixing there are less vehicle movements on site and surrounding roads this therefore vastly improves health and safety on site.
- Reduced Vibration: Soil Mixing induces very low vibrations and thus reduced noise, which reduces the potential impact to nearby utilities and buildings. The equipment does not exert any lateral pressure when mixing so we can work close to building/foundations.
- Diverse applications
All sorts of soils can be treated, including flood plains, contaminated land, peat, silts and alluvium. - Diverse purposes
Soil mixing helps with a wide range of projects, from increasing bearing pressure and controlling settlement through to cutting permeability and treating contaminated ground.
Examples Of Soil Mixing Projects
To demonstrate the variety of construction projects soil mixing can assist with, these are just some examples of what soil mixing has been used for:
- Ground improvement and settlement reduction for factory developments, retail parks and roads.
- Stabilisation of embankments for gas mains, water pipes, sewers, etc
- Stabilisation of retaining walls
- Strengthening of impermeable cut-off walls such as canal walls and cofferdams
- Implementation of permeable reactive barriers to treat contaminated ground
- Limitation of vibration using soil mixed barriers that reduce frequency transfer.
Soil Mixing: Quality Control
The outstanding results that soil mixing achieves is thanks to the rigorous quality control measures in place every time.
There is always extensive laboratory testing carried out on each site to ensure the right binder is used for mass soil mixing, depending on the desired outcome of consistency needed.
Furthermore, when it comes to soil mixed column installation, for each column a detailed log is provided that documents tool diameter, mixing depth, rotation speed, binder type, binder input flow rate and rotation velocities, to make sure the work is conducted in a consistent and verifiable manner for optimum results.
Soil mixing is a cost-effective ground improvement method that comes with the additional benefits of energy efficiency and the ability to be incorporated into a wealth of construction projects – no matter the existing state of the soil composition or classification.
This is a video of a piling rig in operation and then a soil mixing rig in operation you will be able to listen to how much quieter soil mixing is.
Deep Soil Mixing Ltd is an award-winning ground remediation specialist providing an in-situ soil improvement solution service to the construction industry. With a proven track-record of soil stabilisation through mass mixing and column mixing, we can help with all kinds of ground improvement works to transform even the poorest or most contaminated land into ideal sites that are ready for development.
