Influence of Geological Conditions on Ground Improvement Works

CHU Jian
School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nanyang Technological University

Abstract: Modification of natural soils in different geological formations is often involved in ground improvement works. The success of a ground improvement project can be affected by the geological conditions of the site or the properties of soils to be improved. Therefore, a good understanding of geological conditions and geotechnical properties of soils play a pivotal role in the design and implementation of ground improvement works. In this presentation, case studies will be used to illustrate the general land reclamation and soil improvement methods adopted in Singapore and the effect of geological conditions on the selection of ground improvement methods, ground improvement procedures, and the design and implementation of ground improvement works. One case is the Changi East land reclamation project in Singapore, where consolidation of seabed marine clay and ultra-soft slurry using surcharge and vertical drains was undertaken. Another case is ground improvement works for an airport runway in China, where a layer of silty clay was improved by a combination of vertical drain and dynamic compaction methods. The unique geological features of these projects and their influence on the ground improvement works are discussed. The ground improvement methods adopted are also presented.

Bio: Prof CHU Jian is the Chair of the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the Director of the Centre for Urban Solutions at the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore. He was also professor and James M. Hoover Chair in Geotechnical Engineering at Iowa State University, USA, from 2011 to 2014. Prof Chu is also the President of the Geotechnical Society of Singapore, the Chair for Technical Committee TC217 on Land Reclamation under the International Society of Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (ISSMGE), and a Committee Member for ISSMGE Technical Committees TC211 on Ground Improvement and TC303 on Floods. He was the Chair for ISSMGE Technical Committee TC39 on Geotechnical Engineering for Disaster Mitigation and Rehabilitation from 2005 to 2009. Prof Chu has delivered over 60 keynote or invited lectures at international conferences in all continents. He is an editor for a high impact journal Acta Geotechnica and associate editor or editorial board member for other 8 international journals. In addition to leading a number of large-scale research projects, Prof Chu is also actively involved in construction projects in Singapore or overseas as either a consultant or advisor. He received several awards including the R. M. Quigley Award from the Canadian Geotechnical Society in 2004 and the Outstanding Geotechnical Engineer Award from the Geotechnical Society of Singapore in 2018.