SYNOPSIS

Ground improvement with rigid inclusion is used to improve the soil characteristics of a compressible soil layer on a global scale and to reduce its compressibility by using semi-rigid soil reinforcement columns. Unlike a piling solution which is designed to support the entire load of the structures on the piles, the objective of a rigid inclusion solution is to increase the stiffness of the soil mass to globally reduce both total and differential settlements by sharing the load of the structure between the soils and the rigid inclusions. This talk shall discuss on the practical rules for the design, construction and control of rigid inclusions, intended for all industry players interested in further developing this technique. Reference will be made to the findings from ASIRI National Project in France where an extensive research has been conducted between 2005 and 2011 with a total budget allocation of €2.7 million involving 39 organisations. The ASIRI National Project has focused on designing, conducting and interpreting a series of physical experiments and numerical models as a fundamental step to understanding the mechanisms of ground improvement using rigid inclusions and provide recommendations for the design, construction and control of rigid inclusion ground improvements. The speaker had served as a member in the working group assembling and drafting the recommendations for the ASIRI National Project.


PROFILE OF SPEAKER

Mr. Jerome RACINAIS is a practising geotechnical engineer, graduating in the multidisciplinary engineering institute ENSTA in Brest, France. He is a member of the French Society of Soils Mechanics (CFMS) and of the Technical Committee TC211. Since graduating in 2001, he has worked in the field of geotechnical engineering for the ground improvement specialist company Menard. As the Design Department Manager, he and his design team in France provide technical support to the Menard agencies spread around the world. He is also responsible for the development of new design approaches and internal software for ground improvement solutions. He maintains close partnership with universities and engineering software companies to be at the forefront of 2D and 3D Finite Element Modelling (FEM). For instance, he was involved in the French ASIRI national program and actively participated to the development of design procedures for rigid inclusions under slab-on-grades, footings and embankment.