Compaction Grouting Stops Settlement of an Operating Water Treatment Plant

Wimberly, Percy M.; Newman, F. Barry; Andromalos, Kenneth B.; Ryan, Chris R.; ,

Compaction Grouting Stops Settlement of an Operating Water Treatment Plant

by Percy M. Wimberly, III, (M.ASCE), GAI Consultants, Inc,
F. Barry Newman, (M.ASCE), GAI Consultants, Inc,
Kenneth B. Andromalos, (M.ASCE), GAI Consultants, Inc,
Chris R. Ryan, (M.ASCE), GAI Consultants, Inc,

Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: Vertical and Horizontal Deformations of Foundations and Embankments

Abstract:

In early 1978, about a month into full-time operation, the new filter plant building for the water treatment plant for the City of Glenwood Springs, Colorado, experienced distress due to settlement. Various subsurface investigations and remedial repairs occurred until early 1985, when the intermittent settlement significantly increased. The City sought proposals to investigate and design remedial repairs to stabilize the building. In early 1987, Geo-Con, Inc., a specialty geotechnical contractor, was awarded the contract with GAI Consultants, Inc., being the part of the Geo-Con team charged with investigating and designing the remedial repairs which Geo-Con would install. Earlier subsurface investigations had differed on the depths of settling soil, with estimates from 6 to 27.4 m being given. A 1987 subsurface investigation indicated about 4 to 15.5 m of soil were involved. A compaction grouting program was designed and carried out in 1987-88 involving 65 grout holes outside the building and 48 holes inside, of which about 70 percent were vertical, with the remainder being angled due to physical constraints. Grout takes were relatively high for much of the hole lengths in soil, resulting in significant soil densification and construction of rather large grout columns bearing on rock. After completion, the City installed a sensitive settlement monitoring system, which has confirmed that the settlement has ceased. This paper discusses the building's settlement background, the 1987-88 subsurface investigation and compaction grouting program, and the results of the program.

Return to search