RAP System (Rammed Aggregate Piers– Vertical Displacement)
The impact system uses vertical displacement Rammed Aggregate Piles (RAPS) to reinforce good to poor soil, including loose sand, silts, mixed soil layers, uncontrolled fill, and soil below the groundwater table.
The unique installation process displaces soil during installation and utilizes vertical impact ramming energy to construct vertical displacement RAPS, which exhibit unsurpassed strength and stiffness. The installation procedure produces lateral compaction and pre-stressing and pre-straining of the surrounding matrix soil. RAP solutions are designed to provide total and differential settlement control and increase bearing support to meet project requirements.
Stone column replacement
A ground improvement technique to improve the load-bearing capacity of the soil. The stone columns consist of crushed coarse aggregates of various sizes. The ratio in which the stones of different sizes will be mixed is decided by design criteria. Aggregates are placed in the soil by using either dry or wet top feed or bottom feed vibrators which are forced into the ground. The aggregates are then allowed to take the place of the displaced soil which exerts pressure on the surrounding soil hence helping to improve the soil load-bearing capacity, reduces foundations settlement, mitigates liquefaction potential, and improves shear resistance.
Soil compaction
A method of mechanically increasing the density of soil. The action of the vibrator, usually accompanied by water jetting, reduces the intergranular forces between the soil particles, allowing them to move into a denser configuration. If performed improperly, settlement of the soil could occur and result in unnecessary maintenance costs or structure failure.
The advantage of soil compaction are – increases load-bearing capacity, prevents soil settlement, provides stability, reduce water seepage, swelling and contraction.