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Chapter 6
Environmental considerations
6.1 GENERAL REMARKS
When not appropriately applied and executed, deep vibratory methods, vibro
compaction, vibro replacement, stone column, and vibro concrete columns
are potential sources of annoyance and nuisance to people and environment.
They may also cause damage to adjacent structures if certain rules are ignored.
It should be appreciated that the vibro methods generate considerably
lower greenhouse gases, notably carbon dioxide, than the common
conventional foundation solutions, and have, with the exception of vibro
concrete columns, no detrimental impact on the groundwater. Cements
and other cementitious materials are commonly used in vibro concrete
column construction are very caustic and need to be included in the risk
assessment and enforcement of safe working conditions on-site. The
general application of the vibro concrete column method for a specific
project to be executed in water-bearing soils follows the same rules of
applications as any concrete pile foundation in such circumstances, and
the choice of specific cements may have to be observed. As we have seen
previously, vibro compaction and vibro replacement use only flushing
water and compressed air and, when stone columns are built, inert backfill material (sand, gravel, or crushed stone). Should in specific cases the
use of recycled concrete material pose economical advantages, not only
the abrasion resistance and hardness of such materials need to be sufficiently high, but also their chemistry, when exposed to the groundwater
should be reviewed to prevent unwanted groundwater pollution or any
negative impact of the groundwater on the material chosen (see also
Section 4.3.5).
In the majority of applications, the vibro compaction and vibro replacement methods have, besides any economical consideration, considerable
environmental advantages over other foundation methods.
DOI: 10.1201/9781315372341-6
Chapter 6
Environmental considerations
6.1 GENERAL REMARKS
When not appropriately applied and executed, deep vibratory methods, vibro
compaction, vibro replacement, stone column, and vibro concrete columns
are potential sources of annoyance and nuisance to people and environment.
They may also cause damage to adjacent structures if certain rules are ignored.
It should be appreciated that the vibro methods generate considerably
lower greenhouse gases, notably carbon dioxide, than the common
conventional foundation solutions, and have, with the exception of vibro
concrete columns, no detrimental impact on the groundwater. Cements
and other cementitious materials are commonly used in vibro concrete
column construction are very caustic and need to be included in the risk
assessment and enforcement of safe working conditions on-site. The
general application of the vibro concrete column method for a specific
project to be executed in water-bearing soils follows the same rules of
applications as any concrete pile foundation in such circumstances, and
the choice of specific cements may have to be observed. As we have seen
previously, vibro compaction and vibro replacement use only flushing
water and compressed air and, when stone columns are built, inert backfill material (sand, gravel, or crushed stone). Should in specific cases the
use of recycled concrete material pose economical advantages, not only
the abrasion resistance and hardness of such materials need to be sufficiently high, but also their chemistry, when exposed to the groundwater
should be reviewed to prevent unwanted groundwater pollution or any
negative impact of the groundwater on the material chosen (see also
Section 4.3.5).
In the majority of applications, the vibro compaction and vibro replacement methods have, besides any economical consideration, considerable
environmental advantages over other foundation methods.
DOI: 10.1201/9781315372341-6