YOUR DRILLING AND GROUTING QUESTIONS ANSWERED

Drilling and Grouting is the process of utilising concrete to fill voids under the ground. Aarsleff Ground Engineering are experts in the delivery of drilling and grouting operational excellence and our extensive technical knowledge allows us to focus on value engineering, adding value to your scheme. We’ve broken down the top five most asked questions about drilling and grouting below. Why is grouting important in soil engineering? Voids under the ground are a risk to buildings and their foundations. If the ground above the voids collapses, they migrate to the surface, leading to crown-hole development (subsidence caused by human activity such as mining). This is obviously a risk to the building itself, its foundations, and any associated infrastructure. One way to remediate this and prevent crown-hole development is by bulk filling these voids through drilling and grouting. How is grouting done in civil engineering? The process of drilling and grouting generally begins by spacing out drilling points on a square grid. Using a specialist rig, we install a casing and then drill to below the base of the seam or void. Starting at the deepest point, grout is then injected through a flexible tube from the bottom to the surface. Aarsleff Ground Engineering has the specialist plant and people to carry out all types of drilling and grouting works. The technique is especially beneficial for developments around abandoned mines and where soil is too weak to accommodate development. We can also treat mine shafts up to 75-100m deep including filling open shafts with granular material, stage grouting, grout caps and reinforced concrete caps. What is soil stabilisation? Soil stabilisation refers to the process of modifying soil properties, usually for permanent strength gain. For all developments, your base soil is a crucial factor in the performance of your foundations. Sometimes, it is necessary to undertake action to remediate performance before a further foundation is installed to ensure safety. Drilling and grouting is one of these processes. The process of altering soil before building on top of it is an action that dates back to the Romans and has a storied history. Read more about the history of grouting from the 19th century onwards here. Why do you need to grout near mines? The UK has a long history of coal mining. The first mine was sunk in 1575 but the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries saw the industry boom as the industrial revolution ramped up demand. A move away from the use of coal due to environmental concerns in the 21st century means the final of the 1,334 deep-mines operational at the peak of the industry in 1952 closed in December 2015. It has been estimated that around 15% of all land in the UK has been affected by mine working and developing on this land is not always avoidable. The Coal Authority oversees development on land previously used for coal mining. They ensure the safety of new schemes and that all contractors are working with the correct permits. Aarsleff is widely experienced working on former coal sites and our expertise combined with our push to deliver 360 operational excellence means we are a choice contractor for former coal mine developments. What are the benefits of grouting? Maintenance free Grouting can prevent the collapse of granular soils, settlement under adjacent foundations, groundwater movement, utilities damage and tunnel run-ins Increases soil strength and rigidity Reduced ground movement Groundwater control Predictable degree of movement Can be performed in limited working space Designable strength and permeability Aarsleff Ground Engineering is a leading drilling and grouting contractor, with a long history of delivering operational excellence in ground engineering solutions. Our technical expertise and focus on value-engineering means that we add value to our clients’ schemes from tender to demobilisation.

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