A new laboratory apparatus for grout injection studies

The design, fabrication, and assembly of a new laboratory apparatus for the investigation of fundamental behavior of compaction grouting and fracture grouting are presented in this paper. Clayey soil specimens of different overconsolidation ratios can be prepared to study the grout deformation pattern, fracture pattern, and consolidation behavior of soil induced by grout injection as a function of operating parameters. Ideal compacting grouting is replicated by expanding a latex balloon placed within the soil specimen and fracture grouting by injecting epoxy resin or high water content cement bentonite grout into the soil specimen. Moreover, the apparatus can accommodate multiple-point grout injection experiments to examine the behavior of grout interactions. Illustrative results are also presented in the paper.