In the heart of Bangkok, where the soft clay ground poses significant challenges for infrastructure development, a groundbreaking study led by Chana Phutthananon from the Construction Innovations and Future Infrastructures Research Center at King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi is set to revolutionize the way engineers approach embankment design. The research, published in the journal *Transportation Engineering* (translated from Thai as *วิศวกรรมการขนส่ง*), introduces a sophisticated multi-objective optimization framework that could significantly reduce construction costs while maintaining safety and performance standards.
The study focuses on stiffened deep cement mixing (SDCM) columns, a relatively new technique that enhances the stability of embankments in soft clay. By integrating response surface methodology (RSM) with Pareto front analysis, Phutthananon and his team have developed a framework that allows engineers to balance the trade-offs between construction costs, ultimate limit states, and serviceability criteria more effectively than ever before.
“Our framework enables engineers to make informed decisions without resorting to trial-and-error methods,” Phutthananon explains. “This is particularly crucial during the preliminary design phases, where multiple design alternatives need to be evaluated quickly and efficiently.”
The research highlights that SDCM columns can offer substantial cost savings—up to 55% under stringent serviceability constraints—compared to conventional deep cement mixing (DCM) columns. This is a game-changer for the construction industry, especially for projects involving highway and railway embankments where both safety and economic efficiency are paramount.
One of the key findings is that column spacing and dimensions have the greatest influence on performance, while the length of the core pile plays a critical role in overall stability. For instance, for a target global factor of safety of 1.5, optimal SDCM configurations can reduce column construction costs by up to 73% compared to a documented DCM-supported highway embankment. These cost comparisons are specific to Bangkok clay conditions, but the methodology can be adapted to other soil conditions by updating the finite element modeling and RSM parameters.
The use of Pareto front solutions allows engineers to visualize the trade-offs between cost and safety, providing a clear path to optimizing designs. “This approach not only saves time and resources but also ensures that the most cost-effective and safe design is chosen,” Phutthananon adds.
The implications of this research extend beyond Bangkok. As infrastructure projects become more complex and the demand for cost-effective solutions grows, the ability to optimize designs using a systematic and flexible approach will be invaluable. This methodology could be particularly relevant to the energy sector, where large-scale projects often require stable foundations in challenging soil conditions.
In conclusion, Phutthananon’s research offers a promising avenue for advancing ground improvement techniques, making them more efficient and economically viable. As the construction industry continues to evolve, the integration of advanced optimization frameworks like this one will likely become a standard practice, shaping the future of infrastructure development worldwide.