Development of transparent soil grouting test system and its application in grouted gravel pile

Abstract

To visualize the grouting process of grouted gravel piles, a transparent soil model test system was developed. This system allows for the study of soil movement around the piles during grouting reinforcement and enables load-bearing capacity testing after grout solidification into piles. The experimental system comprises a grouting system, a vertical load-bearing capacity testing system, a continuous physical field measurement system, and a model box. The grouting system facilitates sequential processes: pre-consolidation, constant-pressure grouting, and vertical loading. In transparent clay with a pre-consolidation pressure of 60 kPa, constant-pressure grouting and vertical load-bearing tests for grouted gravel piles were conducted. The results captured the disturbance deformation of the soil around the pile during both grouting and vertical loading. The study indicates that disturbance deformation of the soil surrounding the pile increases with prolonged grouting time. Soil beneath the pile end predominantly undergoes vertical compression, while soil at the pile sides experiences horizontal compression. The mid-section of the soil adjacent to the pile displays oblique upward bulging and vertical deformation. Under constant-pressure grouting, the filling rate of gravel voids in the pile hole by epoxy resin chemical grout with strong time-dependent viscosity shows a decreasing trend. During vertical loading, the displacement of the soil around the pile is significantly greater than that at the pile end. Consequently, this test system facilitates the visualization and simulation of grouting and vertical load-bearing tests for grouted gravel piles.