Application of Plasma Arc Vitrification (PAV) to Improve Stability of Weak Soil and Weathered Rock

Details

• Creators:
  Gabr, Mohammed A. ; Nash, Andrew ; Mayne, Paul W. ; Elhakim, Amr ; Wehrle, Kathryn
• Corporate Creators:
  North Carolina State University. Department of Civil Engineering ; Georgia Institute of Technology. School of Civil and Environmental Engineering
• Corporate Contributors:
  North Carolina. Dept. of Transportation. Research and Analysis Group ; North Carolina State University. Institute for Transportation Research & Education
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  In Situ Plasma Arc Cutting Properties Rocks Slope Stability Soil Improvement Soil Stabilization Vitrification
• Publication/ Report Number:
  FHWA/NC/2002-014
• Resource Type:
  Tech Report
• Geographical Coverage:
  North Carolina
• Corporate Publisher:
  North Carolina State University. Dept. of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering
• Abstract:
  A slope failure along US-1, South, near Apex, North Carolina is utilized as a case study for the application of Plasma Arc Vitrification (PAV) as a soil improvement technique. The project work encompassed in situ and laboratory characterization of the site soils, laboratory burn of site soils, as well as slope stability computer analysis. Field exploration of the slope material was performed by conducting traditional standard penetration testing (SPT) and extensive geophysical testing. Samples were collected during the drilling for laboratory classification of the material as well as measurement of site soils’ strength properties. Furthermore, inclinometers were installed at the site to assess the location of the possible slip plane and the possibility of further movement. From this information, an idealized model of the slope is developed and utilized in the slope stability software “XSTABL” which performs Rotational Equilibrium Analysis of Multilayered Embankments (REAME). Due to the inability to perform PAV field testing, soil was excavated from the slope site and vitrified in the plasma laboratory at Georgia Institute of Technology. Once completed, additional lab tests were performed on the vitrified sample to determine the strength parameters for vitrified column model. The unit weight of the vitrified material increased by 46% from approximately 17 to 25 kN/m3. The igneous Mass created (in kg) was equal to 0.78 E(0.76), where E is the energy consumed in kWh. The Slope stability analyses included many trials by varying the diameter of the PAV columns, the length of the embedment, and the spacing between columns. The analysis indicated the possibility of increasing the factor of safety of the slope from less than one to approximately 1.3 by including the PAV columns with length of 20 feet and a diameter of 4 foot, spaced at 3D, and placed 20 feet up the slope. Based upon the results of laboratory work and PAV modeling, further research is proposed to focus on alternative fuel sources. In addition, studying burn rates (time burn vs. amount of improvement) is needed to optimize the process.
• Format:
  PDF
• Collection(s):
  US Transportation Collection
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:1134bb725e6e492be263e10a00b85ba839e014380a97f15641579bfd2cc00c24
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/56358/dot_56358_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 12.66 MB ]