ix
Preface to the Second Edition
Ground improvement by deep vibratory methods continues to be the most
used in situ dynamic soil improvement method today, representing well
over 10% of all special foundation work. Its versatility in improving the
soil conditions in difficult site conditions—be it in view of the treatment
depth, over water, or with restricted head room—and its economical and
ecological advantages in comparison with other foundation solutions are
recognized and form the basis for further development.
Our publishers proposed this second edition that encompasses the content
of the first edition, dealing with a number of corrections and necessary clarifications. In addition, it provides a new Section 5.2 on the use of depth
vibrators in constructing so-called vibro concrete columns. Although this
method improves the soil characteristics only marginally, these small
diameter in situ concrete piles are increasingly used for moderately loaded
large spread foundations.
All chapters were updated with equipment improvements and have also
received new additional case histories highlighting new method applications or special features and advantages. The increasing productivity as a
result of the progress made with efficient special plant and effective data
acquisition systems has led to a considerable growth of the special foundation market.
In Section 4.6, the partial security concept for slope stability and bearing
capacity calculations with stone columns are presented in addition to the
conventional safety concept.
Chapter 6, also includes comments on the Carbon Calculator for
Foundations, which was published in 2013 by the European Federation of
Foundation Contractors and the Deep Foundations Institute, providing a
simple and efficient procedure to calculate CO 2 emissions of various foundation methods. It is hoped that this tool helps promote those methods that
are characterized by high sustainability and low greenhouse gas emissions.
Unfortunately, experience tells us that the lowest price of a project is still
the decisive factor for the contract award, and as long as the CO 2 emissions
of construction works are not considered a price worthy item, you should
Preface to the Second Edition
Ground improvement by deep vibratory methods continues to be the most
used in situ dynamic soil improvement method today, representing well
over 10% of all special foundation work. Its versatility in improving the
soil conditions in difficult site conditions—be it in view of the treatment
depth, over water, or with restricted head room—and its economical and
ecological advantages in comparison with other foundation solutions are
recognized and form the basis for further development.
Our publishers proposed this second edition that encompasses the content
of the first edition, dealing with a number of corrections and necessary clarifications. In addition, it provides a new Section 5.2 on the use of depth
vibrators in constructing so-called vibro concrete columns. Although this
method improves the soil characteristics only marginally, these small
diameter in situ concrete piles are increasingly used for moderately loaded
large spread foundations.
All chapters were updated with equipment improvements and have also
received new additional case histories highlighting new method applications or special features and advantages. The increasing productivity as a
result of the progress made with efficient special plant and effective data
acquisition systems has led to a considerable growth of the special foundation market.
In Section 4.6, the partial security concept for slope stability and bearing
capacity calculations with stone columns are presented in addition to the
conventional safety concept.
Chapter 6, also includes comments on the Carbon Calculator for
Foundations, which was published in 2013 by the European Federation of
Foundation Contractors and the Deep Foundations Institute, providing a
simple and efficient procedure to calculate CO 2 emissions of various foundation methods. It is hoped that this tool helps promote those methods that
are characterized by high sustainability and low greenhouse gas emissions.
Unfortunately, experience tells us that the lowest price of a project is still
the decisive factor for the contract award, and as long as the CO 2 emissions
of construction works are not considered a price worthy item, you should