Estimation of compaction grouting pressure in strain softening soils

A new method was proposed to predict the limited compaction grouting pressure for the soft soils. Theoretical basis of the method considered the conical shear failure above the grout bulb. Using the Mohr-Coulomb yield criterion as the initial yield function, the limited compaction grouting pressure was determined, according to the softening elastic-plastic model based on the conventional triaxial compression tests to simulate the strain softening soils. The small strain in the elastic zone and large stain in the plastic zone and the rational yield function for the strain softening phase stage, the analytical solutions to the compaction grouting pressure were presented. The results indicate reasonable agreement and show a good potential of the proposed method for rationally optimizing the design of compaction grouting operations. Foundation item: Project (200550) supported by the Foundation for the Author of National Excellent Doctoral Dissertation of China; Project (09JJ1008) supported by Hunan Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China