Precision Ground Improvement at the Greeley Civic Centre

The Digital Pulse: Precision Ground Improvement at the Greeley Civic Centre

When developing critical municipal infrastructure like the Greeley Civic Centre, the primary challenge is balancing ambitious construction schedules with the need for a rock-solid foundation. For this project, the structural design was demanding, requiring the ground to support column loads up to 500 kips and wall loads of 10 kips per linear foot.

The Geological Challenge

The site consisted of clayey to silty sands with varying gravel content, exhibiting notable variability across the profile. The upper strata ranged from loose to medium dense, with localized zones of weaker, less predictable material.

This variability introduced an increased risk of differential settlement under future loading and reduced the effectiveness of conventional surface compaction methods. The project objectives therefore focused on advancing the schedule through efficient site preparation while achieving maximum primary settlement early in the process.

The HEIC Teaching Moment: Verification through ICM

Traditional compaction methods often leave engineers guessing about the uniformity of the subgrade across a large site. Dynamic Compaction Solutions removes this uncertainty through Intelligent Compaction Measurement (ICM).

Our ICM system provides 100% site coverage through the following technology:

• Real-Time Accelerometers: Accelerometers on the axle of the compactor measure the peak deceleration (G-values) and soil response to every impact.
• Stiffness Correlation: As the material stiffens, higher G-values are recorded. We correlate these real-time values with physical tests, such as Dynamic Cone Penetration (DCP), to establish a direct link between digital data and physical soil strength.
• The 97% Accuracy Link: At Greeley, linear regression analysis yielded an R2 value of 0.97, meaning 97% of the soil strength variability was accurately explained by the measured stiffness response.

The Results: Surpassing the Standard

The HEIC program provided the project team with absolute confidence in the site’s performance:

• Superior Bearing Capacity: Testing confirmed that the bearing capacity surpassed requirements by over 100%.
• Verified Uniformity: Post-compaction results showed average equivalent CBRs between 20% and 30% from a depth of 3 feet downwards.
• Minimal Settlement: At a pressure of 5,221 psf, the maximum experienced settlement was a mere 0.207 inches, far below the 1-inch limit.

The DCS Advantage

By choosing Dynamic Compaction Solutions, the Greeley Civic Centre project achieved a level of verification that traditional testing simply cannot match. We didn’t just compact the ground; we provided a digitally verified, high-strength platform that allowed the project to move forward with speed and certainty.

Looking for a verified ground improvement solution? Contact Dynamic Compaction Solutions at (970) 222 6825.