In Situ Shallow and Deep Soil Mixing

The concept of mixing soil and cement to increase the strength and reduce the compressibility and the hydraulic conductivity of a ground material is not new and has found geotechnical application in many countries throughout the world. GAIA and Golder are leading the way on the design and construction of such installations in Canada. A sub-class of Deep Soil Mixing, Cutter Soil Mixing (CSM) is a recent development in soil treatment technology that incorporates aspects of trench cutter technology to install and blend binder materials such as cement or bentonite. In combination with Golder, GAIA is now utilizing this technique to develop sites previously considered too expensive to develop. CSM technology utilizes a specialized cutter head that offers significant advantages and efficiencies over conventional deep soil mixing techniques and equipment. Through appropriate design of the wall geo­metry and of the binder/soil mix combinations, CSM technology can provide a cost-effective solution to a variety of civil-geotechnical, as well as environmental problems previously thought unsuitable for Deep Soil Mixing.