Rigid Inclusions

GeoSolv’s specialized teams of ground improvement engineers and technical experts have a wealth of experience installing Rigid Inclusions to increase bearing capacity and reduce settlement. Their deep understanding of local soil conditions across Ontario means they are well-positioned to help project owners and their consulting teams to efficiently and cost-effectively install Rigid Inclusions to maximize foundation load-bearing capacity across a wide range of difficult soil types and applications.

Rigid Inclusions consist of cement-treated aggregate, grouted aggregate, grout mixed with soil, or concrete columns that are used to transfer the stress from the foundation or embankment loads through very soft soils down to stiffer soil or rock layers. While Rigid inclusions can be used as a singular solution for a project, they can also be used in combination with GeoSolv’s Rammed Aggregate Pier ground improvement methods to optimize both performance and project cost.

There are four key factors that need to be taken into account when designing rigid inclusion systems:

1. Depth of weak compressible top soil
2. Geotechnical capacity of stiff soil at depth
3. Structural capacity of the Rigid Inclusion
4. Structural loads being applied

When Rammed Aggregate Pier elements cannot adequately control settlement in soft or loose soils, and there is a stiffer soil layer below the soft/loose soils, the use of Rigid Inclusions can typically solve the problem.

GeoSolv’s Rigid Inclusion Systems always involve powerful vertical crowd force, vertical ramming energy, and a significant increase in lateral stress. This triple-action is unique to GeoSolv and results in a more engineered system with improved performance over other rigid inclusion approaches, such as generic Controlled Modulus Columns or Controlled Stiffness Columns. GeoSolv Rigid Inclusion technologies include the Grouted Rammed Aggregate Pier System, Precision Grouted Rammed Aggregate Pier (RAPs), and GeoConcrete.