Determination of design parameters for solidification-stabilization soil improvement in retaining structures

The solidification-stabilization (S-S) method has evolved as a method to contain pollutants and modify the mechanical properties of soil. The benefits of the use of the stabilized material (S-S soil) as part of the backfill material in retaining walls are especially significant since near-shore sediments in port areas are frequently polluted and very soft, and consequently cannot be used directly in construction. There are however large differences in the practical design of such structures due to the loading conditions and time consideration. This paper reviews the traditional framework for the design of stabilized soil and highlights the main differences which need to be included in a rigorous design model when the S-S method is used for backfilling retaining structures. Data from large port-extension projects exhibits typical natural soil parameters and the possible improvement in the mechanical parameters.