Our ground improvement solutions ensure stable, long-lasting foundations for construction projects.

Forgen deploys a range of ground improvement techniques that enhance soil performance in various ways. These techniques increase bearing capacity, decrease settlement and permeability, reduce the threat of liquefaction, and improve stiffness and shear strength of weak soils. By addressing these factors, our methods provide a robust foundation for construction projects, ensuring stability and longevity.

Our extensive experience with diverse soil types across North America informs our collaborative discussions about constructability and optimal ground improvement alternatives. We engage early with owners and engineers through Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) to evaluate intended outcomes, treatment depths, soil types, and topography. This proactive approach allows us to identify the best value alternatives that optimize cost and schedule.

Our commitment to early engagement and thorough evaluation ensures that we deliver ground improvement solutions that meet project requirements and exceed client expectations.

Ground Improvement Capabilities

Rigid inclusions are vertical columns of grout or other materials installed to strengthen weak soils and redistribute structural loads to deeper, stable layers. This technique is ideal for supporting warehouses, industrial structures, embankments, and other large-scale infrastructure projects in soft ground conditions. By reducing settlement and increasing bearing capacity, rigid inclusions offer a cost-effective alternative to deep foundations. The process involves minimal soil disturbance and provides predictable performance, ensuring stability for structures in challenging geotechnical and environmental conditions.

Forgen uses rigid inclusions (RIs) to enhance bearing capacity, reduce soil compressibility, and mitigate liquefaction, making them suitable for supporting high loads. This method is effective for very weak soils and supports structures such as large tanks, silos, slabs, storage facilities, wind turbine footings, and multi-story buildings. Depending on project depth, either an auger or vibrating probe is used to displace soils, which are then filled with concrete or grout.

In conjunction with RIs, a load transfer platform (LTP) made of granular material is placed on top of each column to distribute loads evenly and prevent point loading. Forgen applies rigid inclusions to increase soil stability and effectively support heavy structures. Our expertise ensures the appropriate selection of methods for soil displacement and filling, delivering reliable and efficient solutions in challenging soil conditions.

Deep Dynamic Compaction (DDC) is a ground improvement technique that uses repeated high-energy impacts to densify loose, granular soils. By dropping heavy weights from significant heights, the soil is compacted to greater depths, increasing its strength and stability. DDC is particularly effective for loose or uncompacted soils, sands, and silts, providing an economical and sustainable solution for improving large areas with minimal obstructions.

This method is commonly used for land reclamation, airport runways, industrial zones, residential and commercial buildings, rail, ports, wind farms, and contaminated site treatment. It is also employed to collapse voids and reduce the threat of sinkholes. DDC enhances bearing capacity, reduces settlement, mitigates liquefaction risks, and improves drainage.

The process involves using a crane to drop 5-20 ton steel weights from heights of 30 feet or more in a specified pattern and repetition. The weight, drop height, number of drops, and grid pattern are tailored to project requirements. Craters created by the impacts are backfilled to level the site to the required elevations, ensuring a stable and reliable foundation.

Rapid Impact Compaction (RIC) combines the principles of dynamic compaction with high-frequency impacts to improve soil properties. This faster and more localized technique densifies surface and near-surface soils, making it suitable for areas with access constraints. RIC is often used for roadways, railways, industrial foundations, and slabs where quick and efficient soil improvement is required. The method provides cost-effective results with minimal environmental disturbance.

RIC increases bearing capacity, decreases settlement, and reduces the threat of liquefaction in shallow loose soils and loam fill by densifying surface layers up to approximately 30 feet. It is also effective for improving ground conditions on contaminated sites by decreasing the depth of fill requiring treatment.

This technique involves attaching a hydraulic hammer with an anvil to an excavator, which repeatedly drops the anvil on the ground surface. The weight, tamper size, drop height (less than 4 feet), frequency of drops (typically 40 to 60 per minute), and spacing/grid pattern are tailored to project requirements.

At Forgen, we apply RIC to enhance ground conditions for various projects. Our expertise ensures the selection of appropriate parameters—weight, tamper size, drop height, frequency, and grid pattern—to achieve desired results.

Stone columns are constructed by displacing soil and replacing it with compacted gravel or crushed stone to improve ground stability. This technique enhances load-bearing capacity, reduces settlement, increases soil shear strength, and mitigates soils prone to liquefaction. Stone columns are particularly effective for supporting oil tanks, industrial facilities, storage structures, earthen embankments, and slabs on weak soils.

The vibro-replacement method used for installation ensures consistent results, making it a durable, cost-efficient, and environmentally friendly solution for large-area soil improvement. Stone columns also improve drainage and provide sustainable ground stabilization.

To install stone columns, operators attach an electric or hydraulic vibrating probe to a crane or excavator, which penetrates the ground to the required depth. Water and air jets assist the probe in reaching the target depth. Once achieved, the probe is repeatedly lifted and lowered while injecting stone to the required compaction, ensuring uniform and reliable ground improvement.

Soil mixing involves blending in-situ soils with cementitious binders to form stable soilcrete columns. This versatile technique is effective in various soil types, improving strength, reducing permeability, and lowering compressibility. It is widely applied in contaminated site remediation, embankment stabilization, excavation support, and enhancing ground conditions for structures such as multi-story buildings, slabs, tanks, silos, and storage facilities.

Soil mixing also stabilizes contaminated soils, eliminating their leaching potential. Forgen evaluates specific project requirements and site conditions to select the appropriate soil mixing techniques and binders. Factors considered include treatment depth, soil type, site topography, cost, and schedule.

One soil mixing method uses a conventional excavator to mechanically mix in-situ soil with cement or other additives in dry or slurry form. This approach provides flexibility, mobility, and cost efficiencies, especially for mixing depths up to 20 feet. At greater depths, specialized equipment may be required to ensure adequate mixing quality and energy.

Forgen utilizes advanced tools, including large stock excavators fitted with custom booms, integrated GPS with remote monitoring for quality control, and specialized bucket teeth suited to soil conditions. These technologies ensure precise and reliable soil improvement solutions tailored to complex geotechnical challenges.

Jet grouting involves injecting high-pressure cementitious grout into the soil to form cylindrical soilcrete columns. This technique is highly versatile and can be tailored to various soil types and project requirements. Jet grouting is used for underpinning, groundwater cutoff, and foundation support in challenging geotechnical conditions. It offers precise control over column diameter, strength, and alignment, making it ideal for applications requiring high strength and low permeability. Jet grouting provides a reliable and adaptable solution for soil improvement in confined spaces or below existing structures.

Wick drains, also known as prefabricated vertical drains, accelerate the consolidation of saturated soils by providing shortened drainage paths for excess pore water. They are installed vertically into soft clay or silt deposits to expedite soil stabilization, reducing the time required for settlement. Wick drains are commonly used in road embankments, airport runways, and reclaimed land projects. By facilitating quicker construction timelines and minimizing post-construction settlement, wick drains improve the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of projects in soft soil conditions.

Featured Project Experience

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Alternative Delivery

We specialize in delivering projects through alternative contracting methods, aiming to improve quality, reduce costs, enhance efficiency, and manage risks. Our expertise in heavy civil, geotechnical construction, and environmental remediation allows us to provide innovative solutions with agility. Early stakeholder engagement ensures alignment of project goals, fostering transparency and accountability. By combining technical expertise with innovative problem-solving and strong client communication, we tailor our services to meet each project’s unique challenges, ensuring successful outcomes.

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Our ground improvement solutions ensure stable, long-lasting foundations for construction projects.

Ground Improvement Capabilities

Featured Project Experience

Alternative Delivery

Markets We Serve

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