Luton,<br /> Redrow Homes

Appointed to work with Maccaferri to provide the specialist earthworks and stabilisation of chalk arisings for a mechanically stabilised earth (MSE) structure as part of a new housing development.

Project challenges / GDL solutions

• Cement stabilisation of chalk is non-routine in such applications since achieving structural grade compaction of the chalk is not straightforward given the material’s propensity to degrade under excessive compaction.
• In determining the strength characteristics for the materials, we collected samples from site, prepared stabilised samples in our laboratory and utilised our tie-up with Strathclyde University to undertaken large shear box tests on the stabilised chalk. We also undertook a compaction study in our own laboratory in order to develop a workable specification.

Project benefits for the client

• The chalk material was originally scheduled for offsite / landscaping with a replacement import material required and thus the economic & environmental savings for the project were substantial.