Vibro Compaction

Vibro Compaction, also known as

VibroflotationTM, is used to densify
clean, cohesionless soils. The action
of the vibrator, usually accompanied
by water jetting, reduces the inter-
granular forces between the soil
particles, allowing them to move into
a denser configuration, typically
achieving a relative density of 70 to
85 percent. Compaction is achieved
above and below the water table.

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Vibro Compaction
Process

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 Vibro Compaction
Profile of Sand Grains

Volume reduction due to densification of non-cohesive soils may

result in surface settlement of 5% to 15% of the treated depth.

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 Vibro Compaction
Design Considerations

The design approach for Vibro technologies will generally be

governed by one or more of the three major categories of site
improvement:
 Shear resistance increase
 Settlement control
 Liquefaction & lateral spreading mitigation

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 Vibro Compaction
Range of Treatable Soils

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 Vibro Compaction
Design Requirements

Design of the Vibro program requires information on:

 Total loads (structure, surcharge, live, wind and seismic)
 Soil type (variation, stratigraphy, groundwater location)
 Type of footing/slab design
 Structural settlement tolerance
 Site restrictions and limitations
To address the above issues, the Vibro program is designed such
that the zone of influence of the vibratory probe ensures the
necessary soil densification and/or reinforcement.

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 Vibro Compaction
Densification Results

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Vibro Compaction
Expected Results

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 Vibro Compaction
Design Steps

1. Perform site investigation

Soil gradation important
2. Calculate performance with existing soil conditions
Problem understood
3. Establish compaction requirements
Sufficient densification to reduce settlement and/or prevent liquefaction
4. Develop appropriate Vibro Compaction approach
Treat entire site or just footing?
5. Establish testing criteria
Relative density, SPT, CPT, PMT, etc.

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 Vibro Compaction
Increased Bearing Capacity

Bearing capacity is a function of the soil’s shear strength which

is derived from the soil’s angle of internal friction () and/or
cohesion (c). The Vibro systems increase the allowable bearing
capacity by increasing the effective  angle.

Vibro Compaction densifies cohesionless granular soils, thus

increasing the angle of internal friction directly. The allowable
bearing capacity is calculated with conventional procedures
using the improved angle.

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 Vibro Compaction
Reduced Settlement

Settlement is a function of the soil’s modulus and consolidation

character. Vibro systems decrease the settlement that will occur
beneath a proposed foundation by either directly increasing the
in situ soil’s modulus value and/or by constructing high modulus
Vibro stone columns in a grid pattern beneath the planned
foundation.
Vibro Compaction densifies cohesionless granular soils, thus
increasing the soil’s modulus value directly. The settlement is
calculated with conventional procedures using the improved
modulus value.

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 Vibro Compaction
Quality Control

Compaction point locations

Resistance level as measured by amp meter (vibrator draws
more current in denser soils)
Quantity of fill added or reduction in site level

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 Vibro Compaction
Acceptance Testing

 Standard Penetration Test (SPT)

 Cone Penetrometer Test (CPT)
 Pressuremeter Test (PMT)
 Dilatometer Test (DMT)
 Load test

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 Vibro Compaction
Benefits

Increases bearing capacity and reduces foundation size

Reduces foundation settlement
Mitigates liquefaction potential
Permits construction on granular fills

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 Vibro Replacement
Stone Columns

Vibro Replacement Stone Columns

extends the range of soils that can be
improved by vibratory techniques to
include cohesive soils. Densification
and/or reinforcement of the soil with
compacted granular columns or “stone
columns” is accomplished.
 Vibro Replacement
Stone Columns

Cohesive, mixed and layered soils generally do not

densify easily when subjected to vibration alone. The
Vibro Replacement Stone Columns technique was
developed specifically for these soils, effectively
extending the range of soil types that can be improved
with the deep vibratory process.

With Vibro Replacement Stone Columns, columns of

dense, crushed stone are designed to increase bearing
capacity, reduce settlement, aid densification and
mitigate the potential for liquefaction, and improve shear
resistance.

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 Vibro Replacement
Stone Column Process

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 Vibro Replacement
Stone Column Construction

The two primary methods of Vibro Stone Column

construction are:

Wet, Top Feed Method (Replacement and Displacement)

In this technique, jetting water is used to remove soft material,
stabilize the probe hole, and ensure that the stone backfill
reaches the tip of the vibrator. This is the most commonly used
and most cost-efficient of the deep vibratory methods. However,
handling of the spoil generated by the process may make this
method more difficult to use on confined sites or in
environmentally sensitive areas.

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 Vibro Replacement
Top-Feed Construction Method

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 Vibro Replacement

Dry, Bottom Feed Method (Displacement)

This technique uses the same vibrator probes as standard Vibro

Replacement Stone Columns, but with the addition of a hopper
and supply tube to feed the stone backfill directly to the tip of the
vibrator. Bottom Feed Vibro Replacement is a completely dry
operation where the vibrator remains in the ground during the
construction process. The elimination of flushing water in turn
eliminates the generation of spoil, extending the range of sites
that can be treated. Treatment is possible up to a depth of 80
feet and is not inhibited by the presence of groundwater.

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 Vibro Replacement
Bottom-Feed Construction Method

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 Vibro Replacement
Design Steps

1. Perform site investigation

Soil type, gradation, consolidation, and strength important
2. Calculate predicted improvement
Problem understood
3. Establish requirements of ground improvement
What settlements, factor of safety, etc., are allowable
4. Design Vibro Replacement scheme
Number of stone columns and/or performance
requirements required to achieve desired results
5. Establish testing criteria
Load test, SPT, area of stone columns

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 Vibro Replacement
Important Parameters

 Ground conditions
 Relative density
 Degree of saturation
 Permeation

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 Vibro Replacement
Design Considerations

The design approach for Vibro technologies will generally be governed

by one or more of the three major categories of site improvement:
 Shear resistance increase
 Settlement control
 Liquefaction & lateral spreading mitigation

Geotechnical Construction
 Vibro Replacement
Design Considerations

Geotechnical Construction
 Vibro Replacement
Design Requirements

Design of the Vibro program requires information on:

 Total loads (structure, surcharge, live, wind and seismic)

 Soil type (variation, stratigraphy, groundwater location)
 Type of footing/slab design
 Structural settlement tolerance
 Site restrictions and limitations

To address the above issues, the Vibro program is designed such

that the zone of influence of the vibratory probe ensures the
necessary soil densification and/or reinforcement.

Geotechnical Construction
 Vibro Compaction
Densification Results

Geotechnical Construction
Vibro Replacement
Expected Results

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 Vibro Replacement
Increased Bearing Capacity

Vibro Replacement constructs dense, Vibro stone columns in the zone

requiring improvement. The allowable bearing capacity can be calculated by
a variety of methods, such as the one developed by Priebe in “The Design
of Vibro Replacement”, Ground Engineering, December 1995. If any of the
in situ soils are granular, their improved value should also be accounted for
in the design.

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 Vibro Replacement
Reduced Settlement

Vibro Replacement constructs high modulus dense Vibro stone

columns in the zone requiring improvement. The anticipated
settlement can be evaluated by a variety of methods, such as the
Priebe method.

This method provides an improvement factor based on the stone

column’s angle of internal friction and the percentage of the
treatment zone replaced by stone (area replacement ratio).
In addition, if any of the in situ soils are granular, their improved
parameters should also be included in the design.

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 Vibro Replacement
Reduced Settlement

Method to estimate settlement reduction using stone columns in cohesive soils

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 Vibro Replacement
Liquefaction Prevention

 Seismic motion causes pore pressure to increase. When the

pore pressure increases to equal interstitial grain-to-grain
stresses, liquefaction is initiated. The soil then loses shear
strength, resulting in bearing failures and slope instability,
followed by large deformations (horizontal and vertical)
 Site improvement by densification has proven to be the most
effective solution. Densification will increase interstitial
stresses, thus preventing liquefaction and settlement
 Densification is required to preclude excessive settlements and
offers the most secure remedy to multiple ground
accelerations (aftershocks)

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 Vibro Replacement
Embankment Subgrade Improvement

Vibro stone columns increase the slope stability safety factor

especially when they attract sufficient loading to increase shearing
resistance. The shear strength of treated soil depends on the shear
strength of the untreated soil, the transverse shear strength of the
columns, the area replacement ratio and the load conditions.

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 Vibro Replacement
Typical Arrangement of Stone Columns

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 Vibro Replacement
Quality Control

Production Monitoring
 Quantity and quality of backfill added

 Vibrator amperage draw

 Treatment depth

Post-Construction Testing
 Standard Penetration Testing (SPT)

 Cone Penetrometer Testing (CPT)

 Dilatometer Testing (DMT)

 Load Testing

 Shear Wave Velocity Profiling

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 Vibro Replacement
Benefits

Permits shallow footing construction

Reduces foundation settlement
Increases bearing capacity, allowing reduction in footing size
Mitigates liquefaction potential
Prevents earthquake-induced lateral spreading
Provides slope stabilization
Permits construction on fills

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Dynamic Compaction
Weights of 10 to 30 tons
Drop heights of 50 to 100 ft
Impact grids of 7 x 7 ft to 20 x 20 ft

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