School Must Go On: A Case Study on the Stabilization of the Many Farms High School Using Compaction Grouting-Video

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Video Summary

The presenters described a compaction-grouting project that stabilized seven school buildings at more than 1,500 locations on the Navajo Nation, near Chinle, Arizona. The site had a history of farmland use, shallow groundwater, expansive clays, loose sands, and weak, variable soils associated with the Chinle Formation. These conditions had caused severe differential settlement, and some buildings had previously been abandoned.<br /><br />Compaction grouting used a very stiff, site-batched grout (zero-to-two-inch slump) to densify the soil and stabilize foundations. Site investigation, including CPT testing and grout trials, helped determine the treatment approach and a target grout volume of about four cubic feet per foot. Primary grout locations extended roughly 70–80 feet deep, while secondary locations reached about 30 feet.<br /><br />Because the school remained open during construction, crews carefully managed access, safety, production, and building movement. Monitoring helped ensure stabilization without lifting the structures.

Keywords

compaction grouting

Navajo Nation

foundation stabilization

differential settlement

Chinle Arizona