Soil reinforcement with geopolymer : A FEM study in the Old Town subway track adjacent to Söderströmsbron

Abstract: Söderströmsbron is the bridge that leads the subway between Slussen and Gamla Stan in Stockholm, the capital of Sweden. It is one of the busiest routes in the entire SL traffic system. According to surveys, the ground behind one of the retaining walls in Gamla Stan has shown settlements and movements that have required Trafikförvaltning to annually fill up with 1m3 of macadam.To avoid disturbing the traffic in the area, an interference-free reinforcement method has been requested. A proposal to stabilize the soil is by injecting geopolymer, which is a two- component solution that protects against erosion and equalize ground levels. Geopolymer consist of two liquid substances, that expand in the combination with each other, forming an impervious barrier to water.This report addresses a finite element analysis in the Plaxis 2D program for the affected soil behind the support with geopolymer to determine if the reinforcement method can be applied as a long-term solution.The results from FE analyzes show that the injection of geopolymer is a more long-term solution for reduced settlements in the soil, but also for the movements of the structures.