Ground Engineering was awarded a geotechnical site investigation contract to look at redevelopment options at an old ironstone quarry.
Post completion of the quarrying operations the site had been loosely backfilled with a combination of granular arisings and cohesive soils. In order to formulate a redevelopment strategy, it was necessary to investigate the geotechnical condition of the ground, identify the suitability of the soils for re-engineering and provide detailed information on alternative appropriate ground improvement techniques. Upon completion of the investigation works, the final report covered not only a number of alternative geotechnical solutions, but also provided a detailed earthworks testing specification in order to allow for the re-use of site won materials.
During the first phase of the redevelopment works, the site operations consisted of Dynamic Compaction to improve the loose back-fill material, followed by a comprehensive phase of earthworks on top of this to raise levels up to final formation level. Due to the severity of the weather during the works, additional measures were also undertaken on the formation of the dynamically compacted material using lime and cement modification and stabilisation to improve the engineering performance of the material.
Throughout the various phases of redevelopment, Ground Engineering worked on behalf of the client to supervise and validate the dynamic compaction, lime and cement modification and placement of engineered fill in accordance with the adopted earthworks specification for the project.
