Knowledge-driven quality control method of vibro stone columns

Vibro stone columns (VSCs) are extensively utilized to enhance soft foundations owing to their advantages. However, the concealed nature of these piles renders quality inspections particularly challenging. Ensuring the construction quality of VSCs by controlling construction parameters during the operation process presents an alternative yet critical path for quality assurance. As such, this study proposes a knowledge-driven quality control method based on construction data mining. First, a vibroflotation real-time perception system was developed to collect construction data via the Internet of Things. Second, a construction process partition algorithm was employed to convert the time-dependent data into depth-dependent data, which is suited for subsequent analysis. Third, a new quantitative quality evaluation index and an empirical scoring system were introduced to evaluate the overall VSC construction quality. Finally, a vibroflotation quality management platform was developed, integrating the vibroflotation real-time perception system and the construction process partition algorithm with the quality evaluation index and scoring system. The vibroflotation quality management platform collects real-time data to automatically evaluate VSC construction quality and provide reliable online quality reports promptly; it was successfully applied in the construction of the VSCs used to improve the dam foundation at the Yingliangbao hydropower station. The results from this study may provide useful references for the construction quality control of VSCs applied to future similar large-scale projects.