Fillcrete Questions

[jercan]

I have been searching for information on using fillcrete in an excavated area. The excavated area is a high traffic area on a construction site in northern Alberta. I am looking to make the area trafficable in a short duration.

Does anyone have any insight into placing the fillcrete on frozen ground? My thought is fillcrete will interface well overtop of frozen soil.

Any thoughts or ideas? Does anyone have any experience in regards to this?

 

[cvg]

Not sure what "fillcrete" is, though I would never place any sort of concrete over frozen ground.

 

[Ron]

Assuming "fillcrete" is flowable fill or contolled low strength material (CLSM), it will do what you want; however, as cvg noted, do not place on frozen ground.

 

[CarlB]

I don't know your application, so I would hesitate to say "you shall not".

The usuaual reason to not place fill or structure on frozen ground is that it may include ice particles or lenses, that upon thawing will lead to settlement. If ground is clean sand or gravel, that may not be an issue.

When working in areas with permafrost, soils are often placed on frozen ground. The design intent in this case is that the ground will remain frozen.

And if this is a temporary situation, then even less cause for concern. If final repairs are to be made in the spring, you may find there is no need to replace the fillcrete.

 

[jercan]

Pumpable fillcrete is a flow-able fill material consisting of a sand and cement mix (typically 1% cement). I have primarily seen it used in trenchs and excavations requiring compaction in difficult/confined areas. It is by no means structural.

 

[jercan]

In this application, the fillcrete will replace native clay backfill requiring 95% compaction. It is not cast against any structures or a bond breaker would be required.

I think there is a savings in that it will require less manpower and equipment to install the fillcrete as well as a much quicker schedule in regards to using native clay backfill and attempting to get 95% compaction in winter.