Cutter Soil Mixing for Ground Improvement | Casagrande

Cutter Soil Mixing

Deep soil stabilisation technology using cutter wheels to create continuous soil-cement panels with high structural and hydraulic performance.
Overview

Overview

Cutter Soil Mixing is an advanced ground improvement technology that combines mechanical excavation and in-situ soil mixing using vertically arranged cutter wheels. The system blends soil with cementitious binder slurry to form continuous soil-cement panels with high strength and low permeability.

Unlike conventional column-based mixing systems, Cutter Soil Mixing produces rectangular or diaphragm-like panels, making it particularly suitable for retaining walls, cut-off barriers and deep excavation support.

The technology allows treatment of a wide range of soil types, including cohesive soils, sands, gravels and mixed ground conditions. Thanks to precise control of verticality and mixing energy, it ensures uniform quality and reliable structural performance.

Cutter Soil Mixing is widely used for:

  • Retaining structures
  • Cut-off walls
  • Slope stabilisation
  • Excavation support
  • Liquefaction mitigation

How it works?

1

Machine positioning and panel alignment

The mixing rig is positioned and aligned to ensure accurate verticality of the panel.
2

Cutter wheels penetration and slurry injection

The cutter wheels penetrate the ground while cementitious binder slurry is injected through dedicated nozzles.
3

Simultaneous excavation and mixing

The rotating cutter wheels mechanically disaggregate the soil and blend it with the injected binder, creating a homogeneous soil-cement mass.
4

Panel formation and continuity control

Panels are constructed in sequence, with overlapping sections to ensure hydraulic continuity and structural integrity.
5

Curing and performance development

The treated panels harden over time, achieving the designed strength and impermeability characteristics.
How it works?

Advantages

  • ✓ Creation of continuous panels with controlled geometry
  • ✓ High structural capacity and low permeability
  • ✓ Effective in heterogeneous and granular soils
  • ✓ Low vibration and noise levels
  • ✓ Suitable for deep excavation and urban environments

Limitations

  • ⚠ Requires specialised equipment and precise operational control
  • ⚠ Performance depends on soil characteristics and binder mix design
  • ⚠ Not suitable for very hard rock formations
  • ⚠ Curing time required before full structural activation
  • ⚠ Spoil and slurry management may increase site logistics and operational complexity

Compatible Casagrande equipment

CV16-T

CV16-T

  • Panel length 2400 mm
  • Panel width 500 / 600 / 800 mm
  • Max. depth 15,9 m
  • Extraction force at sledge 200 kN
  • Crowd force at sledge 140 kN
  • Operating weight without sheet pile ~72500 kg
CV19-T

CV19-T

  • Panel length 2400 mm
  • Panel width 5600 / 600 / 800 mm
  • Max. depth 18,6 m
  • Extraction force at sledge 200 kN
  • Crowd force at sledge 140 kN
  • Operating weight without sheet pile ~78300 kg
CV21-T

CV21-T

  • Panel length 2400 mm
  • Panel width 5600 / 600 / 800 mm
  • Max. depth 20,6 m
  • Extraction force at sledge 260 kN
  • Crowd force at sledge 140 kN
  • Operating weight without sheet pile ~82200 kg
CV18-F

CV18-F

  • Panel length 2400 mm
  • Panel width 5600 / 600 / 800 mm
  • Max. depth 17,9 m
  • Extraction force Nominal/Effective 420/335 kN
  • Crowd force Nominal/Effective 420/335 kN
  • Operating weight ~83700 kg
CV22-F

CV22-F

  • Panel length 2400 mm
  • Panel width 5600 / 600 / 800 mm
  • Max. depth 21,8 m
  • Extraction force Nominal/Effective 420/335 kN
  • Crowd force Nominal/Effective 420/335 kN
  • Operating weight ~85000 kg