Remediation of Soft Clay Utilizing the “Dry Mix Method”

Numerous slope failures occur along Tonawanda Creek. Saturation of the upper silty soil combined with loss of support for the stream bank caused by erosion create a condition where the thick deposit of soft clay cannot support the slope resulting in numerous stream bank failures. Two projects, one in Niagara County by the US Army Corps of Engineers and one in Erie County by the Erie County Department of Public Works utilized a technique common in Scandinavia called “dry mixing” to remediate slope failures that affected Tonawanda Creek Road. The process involves mixing dry cement with the soft clay to form soil-cement columns. The results show that mixing the equivalent of 8 to 10 bags of dry cement with the soft clay in a hole that is 30 inches in diameter and 30 feet deep, results in a soil cement column that is 10 to 20 times stronger than the in-situ clay. The stronger, stiffer soil-cement columns support the road embankment and alleviate instability of the creek bank.

  • Corporate Authors:

    New York State Thruway Authority

    200 Southern Boulevard, P.O. Box 189
    Albany, NY  United States  12201-0189
  • Authors:
    • Logan, Shawn W
    • Mann, Michael J
    • Rose, Brian
    • Kolber, Jonathan
    • Grant, Michael L
  • Conference:
  • Publication Date: 2009

Language

  • English

Media Info

  • Media Type: CD-ROM
  • Features: Figures; Maps; Photos; Tables;
  • Pagination: pp 218-236
  • Monograph Title: Proceedings of the 60th Highway Geology Symposium

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 01142316
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Files: TRIS
  • Created Date: Oct 21 2009 8:29AM