Test Methods and Specifications
Concrete Injected Columns
- Publication no: ATS-2185-25
- Published: 9 December 2025
- Edition: 1.0
- PDF (free) Download
Austroads Technical Specification ATS 2185 sets out the requirements for the construction of concrete injected columns (CIC) for the strengthening of soft soil. CIC are constructed by the following process:
- a) inserting a hollow stemmed auger attachment into soft soil and displacing the soil laterally so that there is little or no spoil from the drilling;
- b) filling the hole with concrete as the auger is progressively withdrawn; and
- c) if specified, inserting a single reinforcing bar or a steel reinforcement cage into the plastic concrete.
CIC may also be referred to as controlled modulus columns (CMC) or controlled stiffness columns (CSC).
ATS 2185 does not cover ground improvement through construction of cast-in-place piles by a non-displacement method, such as using a continuous flight auger.
This technical specification can also be downloaded as a Word document.
- 1. Scope
- 2. Referenced Documents
- 3. Definitions
- 4. Quality System Requirements
- 5. Site Assessment and Design
- Assessment of Ground Exposure Classification
- Design of Load Transfer Platform
- 6. Materials
- 7. Plant and Equipment
- 8. Site Preparation and Management
- General
- Site Control Zones
- Monitoring of Adjacent Structures
- 9. Construction – General
- Quality Plan
- Column Diameter and Length
- Column Construction Sequence
- Ground or Column Heave
- 10. Drilling, Concreting and Reinforcement Installation
- Augering
- Pre-Boring
- Concreting/Auger Extraction
- Steel Reinforcement Placement
- Construction Records
- 11. Trial Columns
- General
- Testing of Trial Columns
- Acceptance of Trial Columns
- 12. Production Columns
- 13. Testing of the CIC
- General
- Compressive Strength – Cylinders
- Compressive Strength – Cores
- Integrity Testing
- Static Load Testing
- Visual Examination
- Further Testing
- 14. Conformity Requirements
- 15. Completion of the CIC
- 16. Load Transfer Platform
- Annexure A Summary of Hold Points, Witness Points and Records
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