JET GROUTING FOR GROUND IMPROVEMENT
Schnabel, a renowned design-build contractor in the United States, offers top-tier solutions for ground improvement, including the exceptional technique of jet grouting. Our specialized jet grouting services effectively address unique operational challenges, enabling clients to successfully accomplish their construction objectives.
By employing jet grouting, we provide an innovative and efficient solution to minimize groundwater seepage into subterranean structures. This technique is also highly suitable for underpinning existing structures and providing excavation support, further enhancing its versatility.
As one of the leading contractors specializing in jet grouting in America, Schnabel excels in the creation of cement-stabilized soil, which effectively controls groundwater and provides robust foundation support. Our extensive experience spanning several decades equips us with the necessary expertise to help you overcome complex job site challenges while achieving your operational goals.
Jet Grouting Ground Improvement Solutions
Jet grouting, a highly effective ground improvement technique, involves the in-situ mixing of soil with injected cement grout to form cement-stabilized soil columns. This process results in enhanced strength and reduced permeability of the stabilized soil, making it an ideal engineered product for foundation support and groundwater control. It finds common applications in underpinning existing structures and creating cutoff walls for excavation support.
The procedure begins with the drilling or jetting of a small-diameter pipe, typically around 4 inches in diameter, to reach the desired treatment depth. At this point, contractors initiate the injection of a neat cement grout under high pressure, typically around 6,000 psi. This injection occurs through ports located at the bottom of the drill pipe while simultaneously rotating and withdrawing the pipe. The rotational movement and withdrawal rate can be adjusted to vary the diameter of the resulting jet grout columns.
These treated soil columns are strategically placed to provide vertical support or overlapping to form walls or barriers, effectively limiting the horizontal movement of weak soil and groundwater. Through precise control and meticulous quality assurance, jet grouting delivers remarkable results in terms of soil stabilization and hydraulic control.
Jet grouting proves to be particularly advantageous in situations where the subsurface area to be treated contains preexisting utilities or other buried obstructions. The utilization of a small-diameter pipe in jet grouting enables it to navigate and maneuver between these obstructions, effectively creating a larger diameter column in the underlying soil.
This capability is invaluable as it allows for the treatment of challenging subsurface conditions without the need for extensive excavation or removal of existing utilities. By employing jet grouting, the contractor can successfully navigate around these obstacles, ensuring thorough treatment and achieving the desired soil improvement objectives.
The ability of jet grouting to work around existing utilities and buried obstructions makes it a versatile and efficient technique for a wide range of projects. It minimizes disruption to the surrounding infrastructure while still delivering the desired results in terms of soil stabilization and foundation support.
A TRUSTED ALLY FOR CLIENTS TACKLING COMPLEX PROJECTS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES.
Children’s Hospital in Minneapolis
Schnabel used jet grout columns as underpinning and excavation support for the construction of an addition to the Children’s Hospital in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The jet grout columns eliminated the need for timber lagging and prevented the loss of sand during the 21-foot-deep excavation.
J Avenue Water Treatment Plant
Schnabel installed 67 jet grout columns to support the expansion of the J Avenue water treatment plant in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. This project required an excavation adjacent to an existing structure. The continuous wall of jet grout columns was successful in retaining the soil and water behind the wall and no measurable settlement of the tank structure occurred.
The Minneapolis Children’s Hospital project was Schnabel’s first application of jet grouting to underpin an existing structure in lieu of traditional hand-dug underpinning pits. The project team was very pleased with the performance of the jet grout underpinning system.
