54
Geotechnical News December 2010
Grout Line
Paolo Gazzarrini
Overture
For this 22nd issue of the Grout Line
there have been no articles, comments
or signs of life from you, my loyal
and few readers. But for this time,
and this time only, everyone in our
industry is excused! As I mentioned in
a previous issue, just about everyone
in our grouting industry, all over
the world, has been very busy in
preparing the abstracts for the 2012
Grouting Conference (to be held in
New Orleans in 2012 one week prior
of the Mardi Gras – February 15-18)
The results from grouters all over the
world has been really amazing.
MORE
THAN 250 ABSTRACTS FROM
33 COUNTRIES
! It is for sure a
record, and a sign of the strength and
vitality of our industry all around the
world. If this level of participation is
any indication, we can expect a most
interesting and lively conference.
I would also like to use this oppor-
tunity to introduce an ASCE geotechni-
cal special publication titled “Compac-
tion Grouting Consensus Guide”. This
guide is the result of more than twenty
years of hard work by members of the
Subcommittee for the Compaction
Grouting Guideline, by the Committee
on Grouting. This is the first “consen-
sus” document from the committee and
was prepared according to the highest
standards for ASCE Codes and Stan-
dards. The subcommittee consisted
of a balanced group representing all
phases of the industry, owners, users,
academics, designers, and contractors.
It then required unanimous approval
through balloting, first by the commit-
tee, then ASCE as a whole, and finally
the public.
As promoted byASCE, “The goal of
this standard is to promote good prac-
tice in compaction grouting. Compac-
tion grouting is a ground improvement
technique that increases the density,
strength and stiffness of the ground
through slow, controlled injection of
low-mobility grout that compacts the
soil as the grout mass expands. The
technology can be applied to a wide
range of soils, in most cases being used
to improve the engineering properties
of poorly compacted fills and loose na-
tive soils.”
In my opinion this guide is a “must”
for every grouter.
Another short reminder related to
the ASCE-Geo Institute – Grouting
Committee. A few days ago, before I
wrote this article, I was participating in
our bi-annual meeting in Hollywood,
California, on the occasion of the DFI
Annual meeting. The reminder is re-
lated to the people interested in par-
ticipating in this committee. The only
2 conditions required to be a member
of the committee are that you must: a)
be member of ASCE b) be interested
in (guess what?)…………………
GROUTING!
I know that the 2012 Conference is
requiring a lot of time and effort as you
finish preparing your papers for Janu-
ary 28, 2011, paper submittal deadline,
but after that you will be free to pre-
pare an article for me and the Grout
Line. I await your contribution. Write
to: Paolo Gazzarrini, fax 604-913 0106
or
, paologaz@
shaw.ca or
.
Or
tweet me @groutline
Ciao!
