The Compaction Effects of Vibroflotation Method on a Weak and Liquefiable Silt

Vibroflotation method has been used to improve sandy soils, especially to eliminate soil liquefaction in earthquake region. However, some arguments still exist about the effectiveness of this method in treating liquefiable silt. This paper presents an example of the application of this method to a very loose and highly potentially liquefiable silt. Along with the soil treatment construction, a series of in-situ testing were conducted. The tests showed that the silt has been improved significantly, together with the gravel piles, forming the composite foundation, and can bear both static loads from weight of structure and dynamic load from the earthquake