Offshore Stone Columns

Wilhelm Degen, Betterground (HK) Ltd.

Engineered Ground Improvement

Saturday, November 29, 14

Wilhelm L. Degen, son

of Johann Degen,
co-owner of Johann
Keller since 1920 and
Managing Director and
Chief Engineer of Keller
until his death in 1970.
He owned numerous
patents, including the
depth vibrator for Vibro
Compaction (together
with Sergej Steuermann),
and various pioneering
Stone Column related
patents.

W. L. Degen invented the

Stone Column method.

Wilhelm F. Degen and Franz

Elchkorn developed the first
range of high performance
electrical Vibroflots, utilizing
revolutionary internal
design, facilitating a unique
penetration capacity, which
will enable this generation of
machines to reach numerous
world-depths record in the
future.

HISTORY OF BETTERGROUND

History of Betterground

1901-1970

1900

Expansion of the Vibroflotation

companies into Germany and
Far East .

1958
1938

1978
1974

Together with their

father, Wilhelm F. Degen,
Alexander M. Degen and
Wilhelm S. Degen set
up Vibroflotation AG, an
equipment manufacturing
facility in Switzerland. They
developed the Gravel
Pump, the Vibro Stitcher
and the Marine Gravel
Pump together with
designers Franz Eichkorn
and Beda Klin.

1986
1980

Vibroflotation equipment dominated the

Vibro Compaction market in Germany for
lignite mining slope stability projects of
over 70m in depth, with a total volume of
over 1 billion cubic meters.

Betterground Ltd.
(Switzerland) was founded
in early 2009 and was
immediately joined by the
most experienced technical
experts in the world.

Betterground has license and JV agreements in

place with geotechnical specialty contractors
in Australia, Austria, Canada, Chile, Croatia,
Germany, Greece, Spain, UAE and other GCC
countries, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Peru,
Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, USA, Vietnam and
New Zealand.

One of the first projects of

Betterground equipment was
the Palm Deira in Dubai, the
largest Vibro Compaction
project in history

1994-2001
1990 - 1996

2009
2001 - 2009

2009 - 2013
2012 - 2013

Johannes Degen and the

children of Wilhelm L. Degen
sold their shares in the Keller
Group of companies after
continuous years of expansion.
Wilhelm. F. Degen (son of
Wilhelm L. Degen) bought
the Vibroflotation Foundation
Company, Pittsburgh, PA, from
Sergey Steuermann.

Johann Degen bought the

Johann Keller Company
in Germany in 1900 and
managed its rise from a local
well drilling company to a
regional market leader,largely
expanding into the
surrounding countries. After
his early death in 1903, his
wife, old Mr. Keller and Johann
Degens brother Wilhelm
managed the company
through hard times until its
transition to sons Johannes
and Wilhelm in 1920.

Saturday, November 29, 14

World record on deep vibro

compaction by Vibroflotation
at Jebba Dam, Nigeria
Mr. Sergey Steuermann,
co-inventor of the
Vibroflot, left Germany
and set up the
Vibroflotation Foundation
Company, Pittsburgh,
PA, pioneering in Vibro
Compaction in the USA.

Licence agreements
between Soletanche
S.A., in France and
Vibroflotation AG and a
Joint venture between
Vibroflotation AG and
Bachy-Soletanche were
established in Hong Kong.

Soletanche Bachy took a 70% share

in The Vibroflotation Group and
eventually took over the company in
2006 entirely. The relationship ended
in a three year non competition
undertaking by Wilhelm and Alexander
Degen during which both brothers
were consulting The Vibroflotation
Group on numerous international key
projects.

Betterground supports China Harbour

Engineering Co. with low headroom offshore
stone column equipment, site supervision
and engineering support on the Hong Kong
Boundary Crossing Facility project, With over
one million linear meters of marine Stone
Columns, it is the largest project of its kind in
history.

Engineered Ground Improvement

Design/Build: Building Blocks of Success

S a l es , Re n ta l , J oi n t Ve nt u re s

Saturday, November 29, 14

Design/Build: Building Blocks of Success

Betterground Ltd.
Specialized Equipment
Service & Repair
Methods Expertise

S a l es , Re n ta l , J oi n t Ve nt u re s

Saturday, November 29, 14

Design/Build: Building Blocks of Success

Soilmechanics GmbH

Betterground Ltd.

Design Support

Specialized Equipment

Tender Submittal Support

Service & Repair

Quality Control Support

Methods Expertise

S a l es , Re n ta l , J oi n t Ve nt u re s

Saturday, November 29, 14

Design/Build: Building Blocks of Success

Local Contractor

Soilmechanics GmbH

Betterground Ltd.

Design Support

Specialized Equipment

Tender Submittal Support

Service & Repair

Quality Control Support

Methods Expertise

S a l es , Re n ta l , J oi n t Ve nt u re s

Saturday, November 29, 14

Design/Build: Building Blocks of Success

PROJECT

Local Contractor

Soilmechanics GmbH

Betterground Ltd.

Design Support

Specialized Equipment

Tender Submittal Support

Service & Repair

Quality Control Support

Methods Expertise

S a l es , Re n ta l , J oi n t Ve nt u re s

Saturday, November 29, 14

Design/Build: Building Blocks of Success

PROJECT

Local Contractor

Soilmechanics GmbH

Betterground Ltd.

Design Support

Specialized Equipment

Tender Submittal Support

Service & Repair

Quality Control Support

Methods Expertise

Financing
Standard equipment
Local market knowledge
Specialty equipment & service
Vibro Methods Expert
Soil mechanical design & site support

S a l es , Re n ta l , J oi n t Ve nt u re s

Saturday, November 29, 14

Betterground Clients, Partner Firms, and Licensees worldwide

Arabic Peninsula: NSCC

Austria, Germany: Porr AG
Canada: Vancouver Piledriving
Chile, Peru: Pilotes Terratest
Croatia: GK Grupa
Greece: Aktor
Hong Kong: China Harbor Engineering Co.
Russia: Geoizol
Thailand: CetEau
USA: Malcolm Drilling, Peter Kiewit & Sons, Earth Tech, Moretrench
Worldwide JVs from case to case: BAUER Spezialtiefbau
Singapore and Australia from case to case: McConnell-Dowell

Saturday, November 29, 14

1995: Chek Lap Kok Airport Platform

Bachy Soletanche uses Vibroflotations equipment to compact Chek Lap Kok Airport platform in Hong Kong.

5
Engineered Ground Improvement
Saturday, November 29, 14

2001: Pennys Bay, Hong Kong

Bachy Soletanche uses Vibroflotations equipment and expert support to compact the reclamation sands to over 30 m depth through 17 m of compact fill above groundwater.

6
Engineered Ground Improvement
Saturday, November 29, 14

Offshore Stone Columns

7
Saturday, November 29, 14

Offshore Stone Columns

Installation of Stone Columns offshore.

7
Saturday, November 29, 14

Offshore Stone Columns

Installation of Stone Columns offshore.

Introduction to land-based installation methods

7
Saturday, November 29, 14

Offshore Stone Columns

Installation of Stone Columns offshore.

Introduction to land-based installation methods

Explanation why the top feed stone column method does not work very well when carried out offshore.

7
Saturday, November 29, 14

Offshore Stone Columns

Installation of Stone Columns offshore.

Introduction to land-based installation methods

Explanation why the top feed stone column method does not work very well when carried out offshore.
Description of novel Low Headroom Offshore Stone Column rig

7
Saturday, November 29, 14

Offshore Stone Columns

Installation of Stone Columns offshore.

Introduction to land-based installation methods

Explanation why the top feed stone column method does not work very well when carried out offshore.
Description of novel Low Headroom Offshore Stone Column rig
Example projects

7
Saturday, November 29, 14

Offshore Stone Columns

Installation of Stone Columns offshore.

Introduction to land-based installation methods

Explanation why the top feed stone column method does not work very well when carried out offshore.
Description of novel Low Headroom Offshore Stone Column rig
Example projects

7
Saturday, November 29, 14

Offshore Stone Columns

Installation of Stone Columns offshore.

Introduction to land-based installation methods

Explanation why the top feed stone column method does not work very well when carried out offshore.
Description of novel Low Headroom Offshore Stone Column rig
Example projects

Design purpose for offshore stone columns

7
Saturday, November 29, 14

Offshore Stone Columns

Installation of Stone Columns offshore.

Introduction to land-based installation methods

Explanation why the top feed stone column method does not work very well when carried out offshore.
Description of novel Low Headroom Offshore Stone Column rig
Example projects

Design purpose for offshore stone columns

Slope stability, but also liquefaction prevention and static settlement reduction

7
Saturday, November 29, 14

Offshore Stone Columns

Installation of Stone Columns offshore.

Introduction to land-based installation methods

Explanation why the top feed stone column method does not work very well when carried out offshore.
Description of novel Low Headroom Offshore Stone Column rig
Example projects

Design purpose for offshore stone columns

Slope stability, but also liquefaction prevention and static settlement reduction

7
Saturday, November 29, 14

Offshore Stone Columns

Installation of Stone Columns offshore.

Introduction to land-based installation methods

Explanation why the top feed stone column method does not work very well when carried out offshore.
Description of novel Low Headroom Offshore Stone Column rig
Example projects

Design purpose for offshore stone columns

Slope stability, but also liquefaction prevention and static settlement reduction

Quality Control

7
Saturday, November 29, 14

Offshore Stone Columns

Installation of Stone Columns offshore.

Introduction to land-based installation methods

Explanation why the top feed stone column method does not work very well when carried out offshore.
Description of novel Low Headroom Offshore Stone Column rig
Example projects

Design purpose for offshore stone columns

Slope stability, but also liquefaction prevention and static settlement reduction

Quality Control

New Operator Guidance System assuring quality during installation phase

7
Saturday, November 29, 14

Offshore Stone Columns

Installation of Stone Columns offshore.

Introduction to land-based installation methods

Explanation why the top feed stone column method does not work very well when carried out offshore.
Description of novel Low Headroom Offshore Stone Column rig
Example projects

Design purpose for offshore stone columns

Slope stability, but also liquefaction prevention and static settlement reduction

Quality Control

New Operator Guidance System assuring quality during installation phase

Load testing of stone columns

7
Saturday, November 29, 14

Offshore Stone Columns

Installation of Stone Columns offshore.

Introduction to land-based installation methods

Explanation why the top feed stone column method does not work very well when carried out offshore.
Description of novel Low Headroom Offshore Stone Column rig
Example projects

Design purpose for offshore stone columns

Slope stability, but also liquefaction prevention and static settlement reduction

Quality Control

New Operator Guidance System assuring quality during installation phase

Load testing of stone columns
Soil sounding post treatment

7
Saturday, November 29, 14

Offshore Stone Columns

Installation of Stone Columns offshore.

Introduction to land-based installation methods

Explanation why the top feed stone column method does not work very well when carried out offshore.
Description of novel Low Headroom Offshore Stone Column rig
Example projects

Design purpose for offshore stone columns

Slope stability, but also liquefaction prevention and static settlement reduction

Quality Control

New Operator Guidance System assuring quality during installation phase

Load testing of stone columns
Soil sounding post treatment

7
Saturday, November 29, 14

Wet Top Feed Method: Why it doesn't work well under water

8
Saturday, November 29, 14

Wet Top Feed Method: Why it doesn't work well under water

8
Saturday, November 29, 14

Wet Top Feed Method: Why it doesn't work well under water

8
Saturday, November 29, 14

Wet Top Feed Method: Why it doesn't work well under water

8
Saturday, November 29, 14

Wet Top Feed Method: Why it doesn't work well under water

8
Saturday, November 29, 14

Dry Bottom Feed Stone Column Installation

9
Saturday, November 29, 14

Bottom Feed Skip Bucket Rig

A bucket (6) transports stones into hopper

(7) from where they fall through gate (9)
into receiver tank (5). From there the
stones fall into silo tube (4) and flow
ultimately through tremie pipe (3) into the
stone column (1).

11

The depth vibrator (2) pushes the stones

into the soil by vibration and up and down
movements of the rig via crane (11) and
lifting head (8).

10
Saturday, November 29, 14

Bottom Feed Skip Bucket Rig

A bucket (6) transports stones into hopper

(7) from where they fall through gate (9)
into receiver tank (5). From there the
stones fall into silo tube (4) and flow
ultimately through tremie pipe (3) into the
stone column (1).

11

The depth vibrator (2) pushes the stones

into the soil by vibration and up and down
movements of the rig via crane (11) and
lifting head (8).

10
Saturday, November 29, 14

Bottom Feed Skip Bucket Rig

A bucket (6) transports stones into hopper

(7) from where they fall through gate (9)
into receiver tank (5). From there the
stones fall into silo tube (4) and flow
ultimately through tremie pipe (3) into the
stone column (1).

11

The depth vibrator (2) pushes the stones

into the soil by vibration and up and down
movements of the rig via crane (11) and
lifting head (8).

10
Saturday, November 29, 14

Bottom Feed Skip Bucket Rig

A bucket (6) transports stones into hopper

(7) from where they fall through gate (9)
into receiver tank (5). From there the
stones fall into silo tube (4) and flow
ultimately through tremie pipe (3) into the
stone column (1).

11

The depth vibrator (2) pushes the stones

into the soil by vibration and up and down
movements of the rig via crane (11) and
lifting head (8).

10
Saturday, November 29, 14

Bottom Feed Skip Bucket Rig

A bucket (6) transports stones into hopper

(7) from where they fall through gate (9)
into receiver tank (5). From there the
stones fall into silo tube (4) and flow
ultimately through tremie pipe (3) into the
stone column (1).

11

The depth vibrator (2) pushes the stones

into the soil by vibration and up and down
movements of the rig via crane (11) and
lifting head (8).

10
Saturday, November 29, 14

Boleo Mining, Mexico - with Vancouver Piledriving Co.

11
Saturday, November 29, 14

Slope Stability with Stone Columns

Slope Stability
with Stone Columns

12
Saturday, November 29, 14

Slope Stability Repair

13
Saturday, November 29, 14

Slope Stability Repair

Installed into slope with

reach > 70 m, hence no
need for installation
berms.

13
Saturday, November 29, 14

Slope Stability Repair

Installed into slope with

reach > 70 m, hence no
need for installation
berms.
5 m wide zone on crest
enough for GP1 Transport
Unit.

13
Saturday, November 29, 14

Slope Stability Repair

Installed into slope with

reach > 70 m, hence no
need for installation
berms.
5 m wide zone on crest
enough for GP1 Transport
Unit.
Perfect gravel installation
log thanks to defined
volume gravel batches.

13
Saturday, November 29, 14

Slope Stability Repair

Installed into slope with

reach > 70 m, hence no
need for installation
berms.
5 m wide zone on crest
enough for GP1 Transport
Unit.
Perfect gravel installation
log thanks to defined
volume gravel batches.
Columns drain AND
increase shear strength.

13
Saturday, November 29, 14

Slope Stability Repair

Installed into slope with

reach > 70 m, hence no
need for installation
berms.
5 m wide zone on crest
enough for GP1 Transport
Unit.
Perfect gravel installation
log thanks to defined
volume gravel batches.
Columns drain AND
increase shear strength.
Capability to target larger
column diameter in soft
soils.

13
Saturday, November 29, 14

Slope Stability Repair

Installed into slope with

reach > 70 m, hence no
need for installation
berms.
5 m wide zone on crest
enough for GP1 Transport
Unit.
Perfect gravel installation
log thanks to defined
volume gravel batches.
Columns drain AND
increase shear strength.
Capability to target larger
column diameter in soft
soils.

13
Saturday, November 29, 14

Gravelpump GP1

60
Saturday, November 29, 14

Marine stone columns - Patras (Greece)

15
Saturday, November 29, 14

Marine stone columns - Patras (Greece)

15
Saturday, November 29, 14

Marine stone columns - Patras (Greece)

15
Saturday, November 29, 14

Offshore Stone Columns: Port of Patras, Greece

16
Saturday, November 29, 14

BART Tunnel - View from the barge

17
Saturday, November 29, 14

2012: Hong Kong Boundary Crossing Facility

18
Saturday, November 29, 14

Hong Kong Boundary Crossing Facility - Status in April 2014

19
Saturday, November 29, 14

HKBCF Cross Section: Stone Columns over an approx. 70 wide zone under the slopes of the embankment

20
Saturday, November 29, 14

Layout of Treatment Area and zone of extremely low headroom

Total Stone Column

Total&Stone&Column&
=1,096,075 lin. m.
=&1,096,075&lin.m&
&

Extreme Low Headroom Areas

21
Saturday, November 29, 14

Land based rigs on crawler crane

Problem under Low

Headroom Conditions:
Non usable length

22
Saturday, November 29, 14

Betterground offshore rig for extreme and for moderate AHR requirement

Non usable
length = ZERO
Additional
submersible
length: 6 m
Non usable
length

23
Saturday, November 29, 14

Airport Height Restriction

24
Saturday, November 29, 14

Airport Height Restriction

24
Saturday, November 29, 14

Airport Height Restriction

24
Saturday, November 29, 14

Airport Height Restriction

24
Saturday, November 29, 14

Movie: Running 30 times faster

25
Saturday, November 29, 14

Wick Drains & Surcharge as preparation for later Stone Column treatment

10

15

20

25

Cu [kPa]

10

20
Depth [m]
26
Saturday, November 29, 14

Wick Drains & Surcharge as preparation for later Stone Column treatment
1. Apply 2 m of fill

10

15

20

25

Cu [kPa]

10

20
Depth [m]
26
Saturday, November 29, 14

Wick Drains & Surcharge as preparation for later Stone Column treatment
1. Apply 2 m of fill
2. Install Wick Drains to only 10 m depth

10

15

20

25

Cu [kPa]

10

20
Depth [m]
26
Saturday, November 29, 14

Wick Drains & Surcharge as preparation for later Stone Column treatment
1. Apply 2 m of fill
2. Install Wick Drains to only 10 m depth

10

15

20

25

Cu [kPa]

10

20
Depth [m]
26
Saturday, November 29, 14

Wick Drains & Surcharge as preparation for later Stone Column treatment
1. Apply 2 m of fill
2. Install Wick Drains to only 10 m depth

10

15

20

25

Cu [kPa]

10

20
Depth [m]
26
Saturday, November 29, 14

Wick Drains & Surcharge as preparation for later Stone Column treatment
1. Apply 2 m of fill
2. Install Wick Drains to only 10 m depth
3. Wait for 80% consolidation in wick drain treated zone

10

15

20

25

Cu [kPa]

10

20
Depth [m]
26
Saturday, November 29, 14

Wick Drains & Surcharge as preparation for later Stone Column treatment
1. Apply 2 m of fill
2. Install Wick Drains to only 10 m depth
3. Wait for 80% consolidation in wick drain treated zone
4. Install tapered stone columns

10

15

20

25

Cu [kPa]

10

20
Depth [m]
26
Saturday, November 29, 14

Wick Drains & Surcharge as preparation for later Stone Column treatment
1. Apply 2 m of fill
2. Install Wick Drains to only 10 m depth
3. Wait for 80% consolidation in wick drain treated zone
4. Install tapered stone columns
5. Fill to +2.5 mPD

10

15

20

25

Cu [kPa]

10

20
Depth [m]
26
Saturday, November 29, 14

Wick Drains & Surcharge as preparation for later Stone Column treatment
1. Apply 2 m of fill
2. Install Wick Drains to only 10 m depth
3. Wait for 80% consolidation in wick drain treated zone
4. Install tapered stone columns
5. Fill to +2.5 mPD
6. Wait for 50% consolidation in Stone Column zone

10

15

20

25

Cu [kPa]

10

20
Depth [m]
26
Saturday, November 29, 14

Wick Drains & Surcharge as preparation for later Stone Column treatment
1. Apply 2 m of fill
2. Install Wick Drains to only 10 m depth
3. Wait for 80% consolidation in wick drain treated zone
4. Install tapered stone columns
5. Fill to +2.5 mPD
6. Wait for 50% consolidation in Stone Column zone
7. Fill to +5.5 mPD and surcharge in Hinterland

10

15

20

25

Cu [kPa]

10

20
Depth [m]
26
Saturday, November 29, 14

Quality Control

27
Saturday, November 29, 14

Quality Control
Visual inspection

27
Saturday, November 29, 14

Quality Control
Visual inspection
Digital records of installed column geometry

27
Saturday, November 29, 14

Quality Control
Visual inspection
Digital records of installed column geometry
Cone penetration test, vane shear test, before and after treatment

27
Saturday, November 29, 14

Quality Control
Visual inspection
Digital records of installed column geometry
Cone penetration test, vane shear test, before and after treatment
Monitoring of induced settlement after treatment

27
Saturday, November 29, 14

Quality Control
Visual inspection
Digital records of installed column geometry
Cone penetration test, vane shear test, before and after treatment
Monitoring of induced settlement after treatment
Full scale load test or very well instrumented smaller scale test

27
Saturday, November 29, 14

Quality Control
Visual inspection
Digital records of installed column geometry
Cone penetration test, vane shear test, before and after treatment
Monitoring of induced settlement after treatment
Full scale load test or very well instrumented smaller scale test

27
Saturday, November 29, 14

Visual Inspection

Puerto Rico, Convention

Centre

28
Saturday, November 29, 14

Quality Control Recorder

29
Saturday, November 29, 14

30
Saturday, November 29, 14

What is better? Ampere over Depth OR Ampere over Time ?

31
Saturday, November 29, 14

What is better? Ampere over Depth OR Ampere over Time ?

0m

10 m

20 m

31
Saturday, November 29, 14

What is better? Ampere over Depth OR Ampere over Time ?

0m

10 m

20 m

31
Saturday, November 29, 14

What is better? Ampere over Depth OR Ampere over Time ?

0m

10 m

20 m

31
Saturday, November 29, 14

What is better? Ampere over Depth OR Ampere over Time ?

0m

10 m

20 m

31
Saturday, November 29, 14

Quality Control Record: Here with semi-automatic operator guidance system

Different installation targets

in the sand and silt:
Silt
Constant diameter column.
Sand
Column with good Ampere
response from soil, showing
good compaction, column
diameter not relevant but
target to achieve at least
75cm.
SILT
SAND

32
Saturday, November 29, 14

Load Testing

Load Testing

33
Saturday, November 29, 14

Surcharge load test: Can be done easily also for underwater treatment areas.

34
Saturday, November 29, 14

Zone load test using jack and dial gauges: Next to impossible to do under water

35
Saturday, November 29, 14

5 m x 5 m trial load with the aim to extrapolate the behavior of a large diameter (over 70 m) oil tank

36
Saturday, November 29, 14

Soil Sounding: Comparison SPT with CPT

37
Saturday, November 29, 14

Load Test 5 m x 5 m Plate and 150 kPa, Soil layering from CPT and borehole information

38
Saturday, November 29, 14

5 m x 5 m Trial Pad: Instrumentation necessary to gain information for back-calculation with Plaxis 3D

39
Saturday, November 29, 14

Plaxis 3D: Columns at working load level, outward deformation of perimeter columns already visible

40
Saturday, November 29, 14

Plaxis 3D: Stone Column Foundation at Ultimate Load

This sideways buckling does not happen

in a large area treatment like under an
embankment.
This here is a small footing with only 7
columns

41
Saturday, November 29, 14

Principal Stress Trajectories show stress attraction into columns

Crosses show Sigma 1 (mainly ver4cal) and Sigma 3 (mainly horizontal) stresses.
Under foo4ng Sigma 1 is 150 kPa, as it should be.
In the upper Clay (purple) the stresses in the Columns reach 400 kPa.
400 kPa means stress concentra4on factor 400/150 = 2.66.
In the silty and sandy soils stresses distribute almost equally between columns and soil.
In the lower Clay (9.5 m down, blue layer) the columns again concentrate stresses on themselves.

42
Saturday, November 29, 14

Soil Sounding

Soil Sounding

43
Saturday, November 29, 14

CPT Testing after stone column installation in marine clays

44
Saturday, November 29, 14

CPT Testing after stone column installation in marine clays

44
Saturday, November 29, 14

CPT Testing after stone column installation in marine clays

44
Saturday, November 29, 14

CPT Testing after stone column installation in marine clays

44
Saturday, November 29, 14

CPT Testing after stone column installation in marine clays

In Marine Clays Post CPTs instantly after treatment would not show any improvement of tip resistance as
this can be shown for the more sandy layers in the below example from Pier 400 in Los Angeles.

44
Saturday, November 29, 14

CPT Testing after stone column installation in marine clays

In Marine Clays Post CPTs instantly after treatment would not show any improvement of tip resistance as
this can be shown for the more sandy layers in the below example from Pier 400 in Los Angeles.
In Marine Clays the instant improvement provided is accelerated drainage and instant increase in shear
strength of the compound material Soil & Column, not an increase in tip resistance of the soil itself.

44
Saturday, November 29, 14

CPT Testing after stone column installation in marine clays

In Marine Clays Post CPTs instantly after treatment would not show any improvement of tip resistance as
this can be shown for the more sandy layers in the below example from Pier 400 in Los Angeles.
In Marine Clays the instant improvement provided is accelerated drainage and instant increase in shear
strength of the compound material Soil & Column, not an increase in tip resistance of the soil itself.
Field vane tests, done months after treatment, can give valuable confirmation of soil strengthening.

44
Saturday, November 29, 14

Summary of this presentation

45
Saturday, November 29, 14

Summary of this presentation

Wet Top Feed Stone Columns are not recommended for offshore projects due to quality concerns.

45
Saturday, November 29, 14

Summary of this presentation

Wet Top Feed Stone Columns are not recommended for offshore projects due to quality concerns.
Extreme Airport Height Restriction requires custom built equipment. A few meters more height clearance
would go a long way in saving cost.

45
Saturday, November 29, 14

Summary of this presentation

Wet Top Feed Stone Columns are not recommended for offshore projects due to quality concerns.
Extreme Airport Height Restriction requires custom built equipment. A few meters more height clearance
would go a long way in saving cost.
In soft Marine Deposits tapered stone columns (in top thicker diameter than bottom) in combination with
wick drains and surcharge are a way to save time and cost.

45
Saturday, November 29, 14

Summary of this presentation

Wet Top Feed Stone Columns are not recommended for offshore projects due to quality concerns.
Extreme Airport Height Restriction requires custom built equipment. A few meters more height clearance
would go a long way in saving cost.
In soft Marine Deposits tapered stone columns (in top thicker diameter than bottom) in combination with
wick drains and surcharge are a way to save time and cost.
Under water visual inspection of columns is not possible. This makes logging of installation parameters
more important.

45
Saturday, November 29, 14

Summary of this presentation

Wet Top Feed Stone Columns are not recommended for offshore projects due to quality concerns.
Extreme Airport Height Restriction requires custom built equipment. A few meters more height clearance
would go a long way in saving cost.
In soft Marine Deposits tapered stone columns (in top thicker diameter than bottom) in combination with
wick drains and surcharge are a way to save time and cost.
Under water visual inspection of columns is not possible. This makes logging of installation parameters
more important.
To identify defective columns, printout of process parameters must be over time not over depth.

45
Saturday, November 29, 14

Summary of this presentation

Wet Top Feed Stone Columns are not recommended for offshore projects due to quality concerns.
Extreme Airport Height Restriction requires custom built equipment. A few meters more height clearance
would go a long way in saving cost.
In soft Marine Deposits tapered stone columns (in top thicker diameter than bottom) in combination with
wick drains and surcharge are a way to save time and cost.
Under water visual inspection of columns is not possible. This makes logging of installation parameters
more important.
To identify defective columns, printout of process parameters must be over time not over depth.
The patented Betterground Operator Guidance System makes it obsolete to use operators with many
years of experience. Operators with zero stone column experience built equally good columns.

45
Saturday, November 29, 14

Summary of this presentation

Wet Top Feed Stone Columns are not recommended for offshore projects due to quality concerns.
Extreme Airport Height Restriction requires custom built equipment. A few meters more height clearance
would go a long way in saving cost.
In soft Marine Deposits tapered stone columns (in top thicker diameter than bottom) in combination with
wick drains and surcharge are a way to save time and cost.
Under water visual inspection of columns is not possible. This makes logging of installation parameters
more important.
To identify defective columns, printout of process parameters must be over time not over depth.
The patented Betterground Operator Guidance System makes it obsolete to use operators with many
years of experience. Operators with zero stone column experience built equally good columns.
Load testing of stone columns over a limited area needs to be well instrumented to allow for proper back
calculations with 3D simulation software.

45
Saturday, November 29, 14

Summary of this presentation

Wet Top Feed Stone Columns are not recommended for offshore projects due to quality concerns.
Extreme Airport Height Restriction requires custom built equipment. A few meters more height clearance
would go a long way in saving cost.
In soft Marine Deposits tapered stone columns (in top thicker diameter than bottom) in combination with
wick drains and surcharge are a way to save time and cost.
Under water visual inspection of columns is not possible. This makes logging of installation parameters
more important.
To identify defective columns, printout of process parameters must be over time not over depth.
The patented Betterground Operator Guidance System makes it obsolete to use operators with many
years of experience. Operators with zero stone column experience built equally good columns.
Load testing of stone columns over a limited area needs to be well instrumented to allow for proper back
calculations with 3D simulation software.
Load needs to be applied gradually and not instantly onto Stone Columns to allow for drainage of soil
around columns. It is the matrix of Soil & Columns that bears the load, not the columns alone.

45
Saturday, November 29, 14

Summary of this presentation

Wet Top Feed Stone Columns are not recommended for offshore projects due to quality concerns.
Extreme Airport Height Restriction requires custom built equipment. A few meters more height clearance
would go a long way in saving cost.
In soft Marine Deposits tapered stone columns (in top thicker diameter than bottom) in combination with
wick drains and surcharge are a way to save time and cost.
Under water visual inspection of columns is not possible. This makes logging of installation parameters
more important.
To identify defective columns, printout of process parameters must be over time not over depth.
The patented Betterground Operator Guidance System makes it obsolete to use operators with many
years of experience. Operators with zero stone column experience built equally good columns.
Load testing of stone columns over a limited area needs to be well instrumented to allow for proper back
calculations with 3D simulation software.
Load needs to be applied gradually and not instantly onto Stone Columns to allow for drainage of soil
around columns. It is the matrix of Soil & Columns that bears the load, not the columns alone.

45
Saturday, November 29, 14