New type sand compaction pile method for densification of liquefiable ground underneath existing structure

The 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake caused severe damage to infrastructures due to liquefaction, in which many embankments failed with large settlement and slope failure. Sand Compaction Pile method is one of the typical ground improvement methods to densify the ground by installing compacted sand piles into ground. This method has been often applied to mitigate the liquefaction. However, current SCP method of constructing sand piles in vertical direction is not able to densify ground underneath an existing structure. For applying the method to an existing structure, a new type of SCP method was recently developed where in compacted sand columns can be constructed in any direction. This paper briefly introduces the new type of SCP method and the effectiveness of local densification by numerical analysis. In this manuscript, a series of numerical analyses were conducted to evaluate the effect of shape and location of SCP improved zone on the dynamic response of embankment. This paper describes the numerical analyses as well as the development, machinery and procedure of the technique, and emphasizes the uniqueness and effectiveness of the technique for preventing liquefaction for new and existing structures.