Course description

Please Note: this course is only offered in odd-numbered years (eg. 2019). Ground improvement is understood as the modification of the existing physical or chemical properties of the ground beneath a site to enable economic and safe construction. These modifications are required because some construction sites (e.g. soft soils) are unable to sustain the loading of buildings or to allow the construction of excavations such as shafts or tunnels. This course presents techniques to go around these issues by using methods roughly classified into (1) techniques to improve strength and bearing capacity; (2) techniques to minimise deformations; and (3) multipurpose and flow-reducing methods. This course presents an introduction to ground improvement including some of the most common solutions such as dynamic compaction, vibration techniques, prefabricated vertical drains, jet grouting, stone columns, soil-cement columns, and soil mixing.

Archived offerings