Vibro-compaction trial for soil improvement in the northwest of Abu Dhabi, UAE

This case study evaluated the liquefaction risk and application of vibro-compaction for soil improvement in a construction project site on Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi, UAE. Abu Dhabi is designated as Zone 0 according to the Uniform Building Code (UBC-97), and we discuss the design criteria for vibro-compaction that were adopted to mitigate the liquefaction risk, the trials conducted to establish the application criteria for vibro-compaction, and the general practices related to vibro-compaction. Specific studies conducted in Abu Dhabi Emirate indicate that the seismicity in the region is low, and the probability of liquefaction is very limited. However, during the pre-project soil investigation phase, the analysis of potential soil liquefaction indicated that certain examined areas have the potential to undergo liquefaction. The liquefaction potential was assessed based on a combination of safety factors obtained for an earthquake with a magnitude Mw = 6 and the corrected cone tip resistance (qc). The acceptability criteria for improved soil are based on cone penetration test (CPT) results. The target qc is accepted as 2.7 MPa and the treatment depth would be a minimum of − 3.5 m. A field trial was conducted to determine the optimal compaction grid spacing that meets the specified acceptance criteria and aligns with the project’s design criteria. Based on the trial evaluation, a vibro-compaction grid spacing of 4 × 4 m was appropriate. Consequently, a total of 4125 points at the construction site underwent vibro-compaction.