Significant Project Features:
- Jet Grouting to improve subgrade of parking lot area
- Work completed immediately adjacent to the B-Stand located at the John C. Stennis Space Center in Mississippi
Background:
In October 1961, construction began of the John C. Stennis Space Center in Hancock County, Mississippi. The federal government selected the area to be the site of a static test facility for launch vehicles to be used in the Apollo manned lunar landing program. Today, the John C. Stennis Space Center is NASA’s largest rocket engine test facility.
Geo-Solutions was subcontracted for the installation of jet grout columns as part of the refurbishment of the B-Test Stand Parking Lot/Tarmac located on the space center facility. Geo-Solutions was commissioned to perform jet grouting in order to ensure adequate soil performance in bearing loads and limiting excess settlement under existing underground utility trenches & tunnel.
Project Objectives:
- Ensure jet grouting columns provide adequate soil performance in achieving the 3,000 pounds per square foot requirement
- Underpin and support trench and tunnel structures to bear loads and limit excessive settlement
Description of Work:
- 52 total columns were installed at a maximum treatment depth of 27 feet BGS
- Columns installed varied from 3 to 5 feet in diameter
- Completed using a single fluid jet grout system
- Average UCS of grab samples was 400 psi after 28 days
- Work was completed over 3 weeks
Project Challenges:
- Constricted work area due to existing underground concrete utility trenches & tunnel and dock head wall
- Work performed around high pressured oxygen and hydrogen pipelines
- Limited access to working area
