Geotechnical

Solutions
 International Geotechnical
Contractor

Content:

Keller Grundbau is a member of the Soil Investigation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

London based Keller Group plc.
Its scope of work is to provide
Ground Water Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
customised solutions for a variety
of geotechnical and ground water
problems. From its head office in Dam Sealing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Offenbach (Germany) and more
than 30 branches worldwide Keller Foundations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
offers its services to the
construction industry.
Excavation Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Keller is capable of solving many
different geotechnical problems
Conservation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
using its own technology and
know-how. The main focus is soil
improvement methods and Underground Structures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

grouting techniques.
Environmental Techniques . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Keller Grundbau is certified
according to the EN ISO 9001
standard for quality management
systems. [DQS No. 5388]. Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Publications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Contact Addresses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

From Soil Investigation to Environmental Techniques

our products and techniques cover 8 different market
sectors. Their individual use and possible combinations
are able to solve a variety of geotechnical problems.

2
Soil Investigation
Our strength lies in carrying out large soil
investigation programs for infrastructure
projects, industrial plants, dams and landfill
sites.

Boreholes
Rotary drilling
Percussion drilling
Wire line drilling
Drilling with grabs
Augering
Reverse circulation drilling 4
Also from pontoons or jack-up barges

Sampling
Disturbed sampling
Undisturbed sampling
Water sampling
Rammed core sampling in PVC casing
Rock core sampling 3
Gas sampling

Soundings
Dynamic penetrometer testing
Standard penetration testing
Cone penetration testing
Soil index testing
Lateral pressure gauges

Borehole Instrumentation
Ground water level gauges
Ground water level recorders
Water volume meters
Settlement gauges
Micrometers
Verticality measuring 5
Borehole alignment survey
Extensometers

Borehole Tests
SPTs 1. Undisturbed sample from a container terminal construction site
Dilatometer testing 2. Rammed core samples in PVC casing for the investigation of and underpass
Flow direction testing beneath a river
Inclinometers 3. Soil investigation for a bridge extension
Permeability testing
4. Large diameter drilling for the installation of several ground water level
Slug-bail tests gauges at one location
Video camera investigation 5. Disturbed samples for soil interpretation of a proposed sewer line
Injection well testing

3
 1

Typical layout of a Soilcrete sealing slab consisting of intersecting columns.

Precise survey systems ensure effective sealing.

3 4 5 6 7

4
Ground Water Sealing
As lowering the ground water level with
deep wells is subjected to more and more
restrictions, Keller is able to offer its sealing
wall and slab technologies as alternatives.
Whether it’s an excavation or an embank-
ment, Keller provides environmentally
friendly solutions to any problem.
Dam Sealing
For dam construction and other river and
sea structures Keller counts itself among the
main partners for all geotechnical works.
Our main focus lies on sealing techniques to
prevent seepages below and around the
dams. Rehabilitation works on existing dams
are also becoming more and more frequent
for ageing structures.

Sealing Walls Dams

Grout walls Grout curtains
Bored pile walls Cavity grouting
Soilcrete sealing walls Drains
Soilcrete lamella walls Joint sealing
Vibro diaphragm walls Contact grouting
Diaphragm walls Refurbishment grouting
With embedded sealing elements Rockbolts
Uplift anchors
Sealing Slabs Grouted anchors
Cement grout slabs Piezometers
Chemical grout slabs Water level gauges
Layered slabs Ground and structural investigation
Soilcrete slabs
Compaction slabs using depth vibrators Dikes
Vibro diaphragm walls
Joint Seals Slurry walls
Soilcrete joint sealing Soilcrete walls
Cement grout sealing Soilcrete lamella walls
Grouted walls
Uplift Diaphragm walls using top vibrator
Grouted Anchors
Tension piles
MESI tension piles

1. Curtain grouting to prevent seepage underneath and around a dam – 2. Grouting to consolidate and seal
the soil beneath a proposed dam – 3. Installation of a Soilcrete sealing wall to rehabilitate a weir –
4. Installation of a vibro diaphragm wall into an existing dike – 5. Installation of a Soilcrete sealing wall as
flood protection along a river – 6. Rehabilitation grouting of the joints of a concrete arch dam – 7. Contact
grouting of a pressure tunnel in a pumped storage power station

5
 1 2

Improving the soil underneath single foundations is one of the many applications of deep vibro techniques. The
compaction points are arranged in such a manner that they cover the foundation and the load spreading area.

5 6

6
Foundations
Soil improvement using depth vibrators
was first developed by Keller.
Several different types of vibrators for
cohesive and noncohesive soils are available
today. Soils have been compacted up to a
depth of 50 m below ground level.
Excavation Support
Keller undertakes the construction of
entire excavation supports and is
specialised in underpinning, strutting,
protection of neighbouring structures and
ground water sealing techniques.

Compaction Techniques Shoring

Vibro compaction Soldier pile wall
Vibro replacement With timber shoring
With bottom feed vibrator With Soilcrete shoring
With pressurised air jets With shotcrete shoring
With high pressure water jets Bored pile walls
With top feed method Secant or contiguous
With pull down force using Non-contiguous with shoring
reaction of the vibrocat With Soilcrete joint sealing
With continuous power Tubular Piles
consumption record Grouted walls
With geotextile sleeve Diaphragm walls
Suitable for stabilising soil against Soilcrete walls
earthquake loads Facing piles
Compaction grouting Temporary anchors
Dynamic compaction Permanent anchors
Vertical drains Ground water windows within shoring
Cavity grouting
Underpinning Excavation Supports
Piled Foundations Cement grouting
Cast in situ bored piles Soilcrete walls
With enlarged base
With grouted base Slope Protection
With soilcrete base Shotcrete
Cast in situ driven piles Anchoring
Continuous Flight Auger Piles Soil nailing
Grouted piles Drains
MESI piles
Vibro piles
Grouted stone columns
With enlarged gravel base
Vibro concrete columns 7
Soilcrete columns The application of depth
Grouting vibrators with and
without feeding
additional aggregates is
a versatile method
offering economical soil
improvement solutions
for a wide range of soils.

1. Foundation of a central warehouse using vibro replacement – 2. Vibro compaction next to a railway line for
the construction of a new track for the German high-speed railway system ICE – 3. Compaction of reclaimed
sand for the construction of an airport – 4. Survey of probe locations for the foundation of residential houses –
5. Slope protection of a deep excavation for a medical rehabilitation centre – 6. Anchoring of a deep soldier
pile wall of a cut and cover tunnel for a new railway line – 7. View of an exposed grouted stone column
7
 1 2

With the Soilfrac

technique difficult
tunnel sections may
be safely constructed.
For example, where
tunnels pass at a close
5 distance underneath
existing foundations
the installation of a
fan arrangement of
grout pipes can
compensate for
settlements. 6

8
Conservation
Keller has restored the foundations to
over 1000 old churches, historical
buildings, town halls, residential buildings,
industrial and infrastructure complexes.
Underground Structures
With innovative ideas and individual solutions
Keller is a strong partner in resolving difficult
tunnelling problems such as tunnelling
beneath existing structures. Since 1985 has
been using worldwide the Soilfrac®- technique
or injections for the protection of structures
against settlement from tunnelling and mining
activities.

Building Protection Tunnelling

Against expected settlements Shafts
Soilcrete foundations Soilcrete shafts
Soilcrete arched supports Sealing grouts
Soilfrac stabilisation Starter blocks for tunnels
Soilfrac lifting Sealing slabs
Compaction grouting Ground freezing
Cavity grouting Tunnel Driving
Against erosion Pipe umbrella roofs
Soilcrete stabilisation Soilcrete arch blankets
Grouting Injection of the roof
Against ground failure Settlement protection for structures
Transfer loads to deeper stratum Ground water handling Sketch of the principle
Anchoring Pipe umbrella roofs arrangement of a
structure protection
Slope nailing With driven steel pipes scheme. Displacements
Slope anchoring With horizontal Soilcrete elements and countermeasures
are closely monitored
Restoration Sewer Construction (see graphic below).

Transfer loads to deeper stratum Starter and recovery shaft

By grouting Ground water control
By Soilcrete elements
By Soilfrac stabilization
By grouted piles
By bored piles
Lifting structures
With the Soilfrac technique
Restoration of masonry
Silica gel grouting
Cement grouting
Joint grouting

Structural Modifications
Foundation extension (width and depth)
By Soilcrete technique
By grouting
Underpinning / Load transfer
Auxiliary structures
Soilcrete foundations
Pipe umbrella roofs

1. Restoration of a church foundation using the Soilcrete technique – 2. Installation of a sealing slab with
uplift protection for a large scale tunnelling project – 3. Installation of a Soilcrete-HDBV arched support for the
construction of a tunnel in a gravelly seam – 4. Soilfrac rig set up and working to protect surface structures
during tunnel construction. – 5. Soilfrac stabilisation underneath a monument to halt the settlement –
6. see No. 4
9
 Schematic of a soil
washing technique.
A washing liquid is
injected under pressure
into the soil layers that
are to be treated to
create a flow.
The washing liquid
penetrates the soil and
is then recovered using
another pipe.
The contaminated
material is extracted
and treated.

10
Environmental Techniques
In addition to the normal soil treatment
techniques available to the specialist
geotechnical contractor, Keller concentrates
its efforts on innovative in situ soil washing
technique under existing structures.
Equipment
Keller’s present day equipment factory was
originally a blacksmiths shop in 1860.
New developments for geotechnical
engineering techniques are carried out here.
The advanced equipment that is derived
from our research and development ensure
our technical excellence.

Investigation Support Units Brochures

Boreholes Vibrocats
Soundings With pull down force using reaction of
Water level gauges the vibrocat Our soil improvement
With guide for the vibrator and ground water
Isolating With generators handling techniques
are described in a
Soilcrete sealing walls variety of:
Soilcrete lamella walls Depth Vibrators
Soilcrete sealing slabs A-vibrator Brochures
Soilcrete joint seals L-vibrator Site Reports
Grouting M-vibrator Technical Papers
Deep soil mixing S-vibrator
many of which are
Removal T-vibrator available in several
Vibro diaphragm walls Accessories languages.
Diaphragm walls We shall be pleased
With embedded sealing elements Drilling Rigs to provide these
publications to our
Modified vibrocats equipped for drilling clients. Please do not
Rehabilitation Drilling rigs hesitate to contact us.
In-situ soil decontamination underneath Mini drilling rigs
existing structures
Ground water decontamination Mixers and Agitators
Stabilisation using binders Universal mixers
Compaction with depth vibrators Sludge pumps
Vacuum pumping Agitators
Soil washing Container mixing units

Land Fill Compaction Grouting rigs

With depth vibrators Grouting container
With dynamic compaction Soilcrete units

Quality Control Devices

Measuring equipment

Tools

1. Sealing of a land fill with Soilcrete lamella walls – 2. Installation of water level
gauges and measurement probes to continually monitor an active land fill – 3. Gas
analysis of the air in the soil voids in contaminated soil – 4. Multi purpose grouting
container, optimised through site experience – 5. The development, manufacturing
and testing of our equipment is the domain of the group's machine factory
4 5

11
Keller Holding GmbH
Head Office and Overseas Division
Kaiserleistraße 44
63067 Offenbach
Germany
Tel. +49 69 8051-0
Fax +49 69 8051-244
E-mail: Info @KellerHolding.com
www.KellerGrundbau.com

A company of Keller Group plc