Ground improvement techniques for the treatment of high-speed railway embankments

A. Arulrajah, A. Abdullah and H. Nikraz

A high-speed railway project is currently being constructed between Rawang and Bidor in Peninsular Malaysia. The ground improvement methods adopted in the project are vibro replacement with stone columns, dry deep soil mixing (cement columns), geogrid reinforced piled embankments with individual pile-caps and removal/replacement works. This paper provides a detailed look into the vibro replacement with stone columns and dry deep soil mixing treatment methods while also providing an overview into the other treatment methods implemented in the high-speed railway project. The use of plate bearing tests and field instrumentation to monitor the performance of the stone columns and dry deep soil mixing ground treatment methods is also discussed.