Optimization of technical solutions during the design of base reinforcement using jet grouting

Abstract

Introduction. The technology of jet grouting of soils is increasingly gaining popularity in construction. Its efficiency can be further improved by optimizing the cement consumption and drilling volumes, leading to a reduction in the costs of base reinforcement works.
Aim: to develop a versatile approach that can be used when determining optimal parameters of reinforcing a soil massif with vertical soil-cement elements.
Materials and methods. In accordance with conventional approaches, a search algorithm was created on the basis of the coordinate descent method and verified using a specialized geotechnical software package. The problem of determining the length and pitch of reinforcing elements, providing the specified settlement value of foundations resting on the reinforced soil massif, was solved. An example of using the proposed approach for solving a spatial optimization problem was illustrated in the Plaxis 3D software package.
Results. The application of the developed approach when solving a specific problem demonstrated the possibility of minimizing the volumes of works at the preserved or reduced settlement value. In the considered example, a decrease in the total length of soil-cement elements comprised 16 and 8.4% in sandy soils and loams, respectively, which represents a significant value in practice.
Conclusions. In the majority of cases, an applied solution to the problem of optimizing jet grouting reinforcement of a soil massif can be obtained and implemented using an algorithm with simplified prerequisites and unification of the pitch and length of reinforcing elements. This approach can raise the effectiveness of using standard geotechnical software instruments and allow implementation of optimized solutions in practice.