Case Study
In-situ Stabilisation for a Car Park Base
This case study highlights the successful implementation of SMR’s in-situ soil stabilisation for a Car Park Base. Despite challenging geotechnical properties and a high water table, SMR effectively addressed the issues and achieved exceptional results, while benefiting the project’s budget and environmental impact.
Problem Statement
The project faced poor geotechnical properties; a high water table, and the complexities of being located in a floodplain. There was also an issue with badgers which caused delays. The client’s requirements included stabilising an area of approximately 10,270m2 and achieving a minimum 6% CBR value.
The SMR Solution
Upon analysing the soil, which displayed a 47% moisture content, a decision was made to modify the ground before stabilisation. This involved a single 300mm pass with an SMR modifying Binder, followed by a pass of SMR Proprietary Binder to a depth of 300mm. The Binder was rotavated into the existing ground before compacted with a 13 ton single drum roller. The stabilized area featured a ridge and trough finish to facilitate water dispersion and central drainage points.
Benefits
Material Efficiency: Reduced muck away and imported stone, minimizing environmental impact and vehicle movements.
Budget Savings: Positive effect on the project’s budget due to reduced material and transportation costs.
Environmental Impact Reduction: Decreased vehicle movements resulted in an environmentally favourable outcome.
Client Satisfaction: Successful achievement of project goals led to highly satisfied clients.
Conclusion
We stabilised the area to a ridge and trough finish allowing water to disperse within calculated rate to central drainage points over the surface application of block paving via perculation system Finished level tolerances +/- 20mm for our stabilised layer application.
After 48 hours of curing, the stabilized ground demonstrated CBR values of 6%, which further exceeded the CBR requirement of 12% after 7 days.
Through the effective application of SMR, the challenges posed by poor geotechnical properties and a high water table were effectively overcome. The successful implementation not only met requirements but also yielded budgetary and environmental benefits.
“I am writing to you today in my official capacity as Contract Project Manager and on behalf of my client Oxford City Council, to thank you and your team for your contribution to the Seacourt Park and Ride extension.
I have worked on this project virtually full time through RIBA Stages 3-5 over the last 2 years and have had to manage a number of engineering challenges to date.
I firmly believe your Technical input in to developing a major engineering solution on a site with known poor geotechnical properties and flood to of been exemplar.
Solving problems for me is the essence of engineering and you met those challenges head on when others would of walked away. Your relentless confidence in your product (SMR) was what ultimately convinced me to try something new against traditional construction and I for one do not regret it. For this reason I would gladly choose to work with you again over many of your competitors.”
-WYG engineering Consultants working on behalf of Oxfordshire County Council
