IDI
Infrastructure

July 2022 No.94
Japanese Infrastructure Newsletter

Development Institute—JAPANCONTENTS
23rd Infrastructure Technology Development Award 2021

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BUILDING STRUCTURAL SYSTEM USING WALL-COLUMN WITH RESPONSE CONTROLSYSTEM AND BASE ISOLATION SYSTEM

3

Effective utilization method of improved soil with inorganic water absorption agent derived
from PS ash

6

Quality Inspection Technology for Foundation Piling Construction Using a Chemical Method:
The CW-QUIC System

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About “JAPAN Construction International Award”

Infrastructure Development Institute – Japan (IDI)
Plaza Edogawa-bashi 3F. 1-23-6, Sekiguchi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 112-0014, JAPAN12

Infrastructure Development Institute - Japan

23rd Infrastructure Technology Development Award 2021
Japan Institute of Country-ology and Engineering

As a result of examination, institutes and(JICE) was established as a public interest

researchers with the following technologies were

corporation to promote construction engineering inawarded the 23rd prizes.

Japan by conducting cutting-edge research anddevelopment activities.

The grand prize is “BUILDING STRUCTURALSYSTEM

USING

WALL-COLUMNWITH

As more incentives should be provided for

RESPONSE CONTROL SYSTEM AND BASE

construction technology researchers and research

ISOLATION SYSTEM”.

institutes to enhance the level of construction

And the two excellence prizes are “ Effectiveengineering more effectively, JICE commenced

utilization method of improved soil with inorganic

Infrastructure Technology Development Award

water absorption agent derived from PS ash”,andwith Coastal Development Institute of Technology“ Quality Inspection Technology for Foundation(CDIT) under the auspices of the Ministry of Land,

Piling Construction Using a Chemical Method: The

Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT).

CW-QUIC System”.

Forty

The grand prize and the two excellence prizes aretechnologies

competed

for

the

23rd

Infrastructure Technology Development Award.

introduced below.

In principle, the applicants’ technologies shouldhave been developed within the past five years and

For any inquiries/ comments please contact toapplied to the real sites already.

JICE :.

Homepage: http://www.jice.or.jp/(Japanese version only)
E-Mail: webmaster@jice.or.jp

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Infrastructure Development Institute - Japan

BUILDING STRUCTURAL SYSTEM USING WALL-COLUMN WITH RESPONSECONTROL SYSTEM AND BASE ISOLATION SYSTEMTASMO (response control system) and TOLABIS (base isolation system)
1. Background and opportunities fortechnological development
Japan is an earthquake-prone country
where medium and even large earthquakes area frequent occurrence, as demonstrated inrecent years. Consequently, the resilience of thenational infrastructure is an important andurgent issue. The seismic design of buildings inJapan is based on the ductile frame structure,
which is primarily aimed at protecting humanlife while allowing damage to structuralmembers. However, the ability of a building tomaintain functionality has recently become an
important design target; this means preventing
damage to non-structural members taking into
account business continuity planning (BCP).
The applicants have proposed the provision of
additional horizontal stiffness to buildings,

Figure-１ Nikko-Toshogu pagoda
central pillar

and the effectiveness of this approach has been
demonstrated through many projects. On theother hand, the many surviving five-storied
pagodas with central pillars (Figure. 1), whichhave experienced many earthquakes without
collapse, demonstrate how important verticalmulti-story elements such as central pillars are
to enhancing the seismic performance of abuilding. Based on this thinking, a frame
system has been developed that consists mainlyof vertically continuous wall-columns similar toa central pillar (Figure. 2) combined withresponse control system and/or base isolation
system. The response control system consists of
exchangeable elements that are designed tosustain damage.

Figure- 2 Conventional multi-story shear wall(left) and frame system with wall-column (right)

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Infrastructure Development Institute - Japan
2. Contents of the technology
The newly developed structural frame
system, which combines a response control
system and/or base isolation system withreinforced concrete wall-columns in the core or
the perimeter of the building, offers excellent
seismic performance. Details of these seismic
control systems are presented below.

to minimize damage to the main frames. The
response control beams are designed to absorb
input energy concentratedly during large
earthquakes while at the same time possessing
sufficient horizontal stiffness.

(2) The TOLABIS base isolation system (Figure. 4)
The wall-columns are arranged around theperimeter of the building and are connected
together with reinforced concrete beams, to givea superstructure of high stiffness. The
earthquake input energy is then concentrated
in the base isolation system, thereby
minimizing damage to the building.

(1) The TASMO response control system(Figure. 3)
The bases of the wall-columns are fixed to thebasement with semi-rigid rotational joints.
Ductile beams formed from steel with a low
yield point connect the wall-columns, creatinga response control system that aims

Figure-3 Wall-column response control
system TASMO

Figure-4 Wall-column base-isolation system
TOLABIS4

Infrastructure Development Institute - Japan
3. Scope of application of the technology
These systems are suitable forapplication to medium- and high-rise buildings.

5. Social significance and potential of thetechnology
Framing plans that incorporate multistory shear walls are becoming more popular,
both in projects completed by the applicants’company but also by other companies. We
consider that this advanced system will make agreat contribution to large earthquake
resilience and that it will come to have greatsocial significance. In the future, it will expand
in applicability, such as in structural systems
for multi-story wooden structures and for use inhigher skyscrapers.

4. Effects of the technology
Frame structures consisting of wallcolumn elements combined with a responsecontrol system and/or base isolation system
offer excellent structural safety. They provide
high stiffness while avoiding brittle failure. At
the same time, these systems allow for building
designs that match architectural andenvironmental planning requirements. In
terms of architectural planning, the perimeterwall-column structure makes column-freeinternal spaces possible, offering planningfreedom and rich opportunities when change ofuse is necessary (Figure. 5). On the other hand,in a structural frame with wall-columns
designed to take the horizontal load at the coreof the building, the peripheral columns andbeams can be smaller. This also creates a spacewith maximum planning freedom. In terms ofenvironmental planning, the pitch and size ofouter wall-columns can be adjusted forstructural performance and also for outer wall
opening ratio, which means heat loading can be
improved. It is feasible to achieve CASBEE S
class super eco performance.

6. Track record of the adoption of thetechnology(Tentative name) Keikyu Group
Headquarters new office construction project,
July 2017-September 2019, two other examples
7. Contact Information
Technology Developer：
Taisei Corporation Design Divisionhttps://www.taisei.co.jp/
TEL: +81-3-5381-5220
FAX: +81-3-3345-0737

Figure-5 Column-free interior spacerealized with the wall-column frame system

5Infrastructure Development Institute - Japan

Effective utilization method of improved soil with inorganic water absorption ag
ent derived from PS ash
Soil improvement using “Wattle”
1. Background and opportunity fortechnological development
In the case of processing muddy soil
such as dredged soil or construction sludge withhigh water content, sun drying or solidification
treatment with cement or lime has been used.
However, due to issues such as time, cost, andalkalinization, the effective use of soft
construction-generated soil has not progressed.
On the other hand, there is an increasing needto "actively use" such generated soil for the
purposeofrepairingandreinforcing
embankments of rivers and the like, as well as
restoring the environment of lake ecosystems.
Therefore, we have developed an improving
material that improves low-quality soil into
high-quality soil on-site at a relatively low cost,a technology for utilizing improved soil that canbe used for general purposes in groundstructures.

Photo-1 Inorganic water absorption agent ”Wattle”

Soft mud

WattleImproved soil
（After loosening）

Photo-2 Change in properties throughimprovement

2. Contents
The technology is to improve mud soil
by mixing with “Wattle”, which is an inorganic
water absorption agent based on paper sludgeash (PS ash; Photo-1), that can be used to
improve the quality of soil (Photo-2 -Photo-5).
Although PS ash-based agent have existed in
the past, this technology has the following
unprecedented features (Figure-1).
⚫ High-quality soil conversion by immediate
improving and subsequent loosening
granulation (Figure-2, Figure-3)⚫ Can be used as an embankment material by
conventional construction management .
⚫ Simplification of compounding design⚫ Promoting the neutralization of improved
soil and inhibiting leaching of heavy metals
by loosening granulation.

Photo-3 Mixing work

Photo-4 Granulation by loosening

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Infrastructure Development Institute - Japan

Photo-5 Reusing improved soil for embankment
material

Figure-1 Mechanism of soil improvement using “Wattle”

Figure-2 Particle size distribution; effect ofloosening

Figure-3 Compaction curve, change byimprovement

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Infrastructure Development Institute - Japan
7.Contact Information

3. Scope of application⚫ Construction sites to reuse dredged soil in

Applicant:Penta-Ocean Construction Co., Ltd/Jaiwat Co.,
Ltd.
Technology Developer:
Hiromoto Yamauchi., 〔 Jaiwat Co., Ltd. 〕/Naruki Wakuri.〔Penta-Ocean Construction Co.,Ltd〕
Co-developer：
Professor Kimitoshi Hayano,Graduate School of
Yokohama National University

rivers, lakes and harbors⚫ Construction work to improve muddischarged from shield tunnels, etc.
4. Effect of technology
In some cases, soil generated on site isso soft that it cannot be used for any purpose,and is unavoidably solidified with cement or
lime, later disposed. However, by using thistechnology, the soil can be improved to highquality at a low cost. In detail, the material costis reduced by 21% compared to quicklime., andin an example compare the cost of off-site
disposal after cement solidification, with thecost of reusing improved soil through thistechnology, a cost reduction of 30% wasachieved

E-mail: yamauchi@jaiwat.co.jp
TEL: +81-438-38-4336
FAX: +81-438-38-4735
E-mail: naruki.wakuri@mail.penta-ocean.co.jp
TEL: +81-3-3817-7633
FAX: +81-3-3817-7286

5. Social significance and development oftechnology
Excavated soft soil and dredged soil
from rivers, lakes and harbors, which have notbeen utilized so far, can be used as
geotechnical structures on land. It contributes
to improving the recycling rate of construction
by-products and is in line with the Ministry ofLand, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism's
2020 policy of "recycling with an emphasis on
quality". In addition, it can be used as anembankment material that can be planted by
improving alkaline construction sludge withloosening granulation technology.
Furthermore, carbon dioxide gas is fixed ascarbonate in the improved soil, which is
expected to contribute to carbon recycling.
6. Actual implementation of the technology
FY2017-2019 Shinmachi River bridgefoundation work (part 2), February 2018March 2021, etc. More than 20cases8

Infrastructure Development Institute - Japan

Quality Inspection Technology for Foundation Piling Construction Using a
Chemical Method: The CW-QUIC System
1. Background to and Impetus for the

To check the construction of foundation piles,
not only must it be confirmed that the pile tip
has reached the supporting stratum, but it isalso extremely important to inject and agitate
cement milk in the muddy water and check thestrength of the soil-cement (Figure. 1) formedat the pile tip or around the pile. Therefore, thistechnology has been developed to enable animmediate check on the construction quality, as
opposed to the conventional method (Figure.
2).

Development of the Technology

In November 2014 a problem occurredin condominiums supported by existing piles,
which brought problems in foundation pile
construction to the attention of the public in
Japan. Prompted by this event, in 2016 theMinistry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport andTourism issued Notification No. 468, and in
March 2016 the Japan Federation ofConstruction Contractors issued “Guidelines
for Construction Management of Existing
Concrete Piles”, which requires existing piles
to be properly constructed and that records tobe properly retained.

Soil-cement

Collect unconsolidated soil cement

formed aroundthe pile

Foundation pile

Create a test specimen

Cure for 3 days

Sampling
deviceSupporting

soil-cement
formed at thepile tip

Test
specimen

Directly determine strength
in compression test

stratum

Soil-cement formedat the pile tip

Figure-2 Conventional method of rapidly
checking quality using compression tests

Figure-1 Overview of foundation pile
construction

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Infrastructure Development Institute - Japan
2. Details of the Technology

By performing a simple chemical
analysis of the composition of the soil-cement
on a construction site, the strength of the soil
cement can be estimated within one hour. First,
it has been found that for each supporting
stratum soil, there is a strength correlation
between the water cement ratio of the footprotection soil cement and its 28-day strength,
and thus a correlation equation between the C/Wratio and the strength is set on the safe side for
quality control for each soil (Figure. 3).
Moreover, to perform material
composition analysis on site, simplified methods
have been developed to obtain the water content
by heating and drying, as well as the cement
content from the neutralization reaction, using
about 10 cc of the soil-cement obtained in theunhardened state (Figure. 4).

Using the conventional method of
estimating the 28-day strength from the 3 -daystrength, it was determined that the estimation
accuracy of this technology is high. In addition,
the technology has been applied on site morethan 200 times, and thus it has been sufficiently
verified (Figure. 5).

Actual qu,28 measured by moldspecimen (N/mm²)28-day strength (N/mm2)

60
40

Sand
GravelClay
Sand+Clay
Sand+Gravel

30
20
10

y = 33.73 x - 28.02
Strength estimation equation

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

20
10

N=207

0
10

20

30

40

50

60

Figure-5 Relationship between 28-day
strength(qu,28) estimated using thetechnology and qu,28 measured using
molded specimens

Amount of cement contained in soil
Neutralization
reaction

neutralize the amount of cement
required to ensure strength30

Estimated qu,28 by analyzed C/W(N/mm²)

Figure-3 Strength estimation equation usedin this technology

The amount of acid that can

40

0

C/W

cement (alkaline)

50

Unneutralized cementshows alkaline

Figure-4 Overview of Estimation

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Infrastructure Development Institute - Japan
7. Contact information
Institute of Technology, Shimizu Corporation,
Etchujima 3-4-18, Koto-ku, Tokyo, 135-8530,
Japan.
TEL：+81-3-3820-5504
FAX：+81-3-3643-7260
E-mail：yoda.y@shimz.co.jp

3. Scope of Application of the Technology(1) Soil: Soil classified as gravel, sand, or clay,
with a pH in the range of about 4 to 11(2) Cement: Ordinary Portland cement, blast
furnace cement type B (JIS-compliant product)(3) Estimated strength: 60 N/mm2 or less
4. Result of the Technology
Determining the cement quantity
using
conventional
laboratory
analysisequipment took several hours, but this method,which uses the neutralization reaction, can be
rapidly implemented on site without requiring
special skill, indicating that this is abreakthrough. From the water quantity andcement quantity obtained through the usage of
the C/W – strength correlation equationreferred to above, the 28-day strength can be
immediately estimated.
Using this technology, the constructionof foundation piles can be checked within one
hour, having an effect of speeding up quality
verification and preventing defects , resulting in
the quality of pile construction being ensured
and productivity improved.
5. Social Significance and Extendibility of

the Technology
This technology greatly contributes toensuretheconstruction
qualityandproductivity of buildings supported on
foundation piles. In recent years the societal
need to ensure the quality of construction forfoundation piles is very high, and thistechnology can be widely used in the building or
civil engineering industries through licensing,indicating that it is not restricted to Shimizu.
Therefore, the social significance of thistechnology is extremely large. Also, in principle
the technology can be extended to cements withdifferent overseas standards, and to control thequality of cement-stabilized foundation soils.
6. Experience of Application of theTechnology
206 projects, including the Moka
Power Station Construction Project (MPP)
from June 2016 to October 201611

About “JAPAN Construction International Award”
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism established the“JAPAN Construction International Award (Honored by the Minister of Land,
Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism)” in 2017, and it has become a global showcaseof “Quality Infrastructure,” which commends (1) overseas construction projects
which demonstrate Japan’s strengths, and (2) small and medium-sized construction
companies which play active and leading roles overseas.
Through this award, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism aims
to promote global understanding of the Japanese companies’ competitiveness andexpect more projects to be carried out by Japanese companies.
In commemoration of the 5th anniversary, MLIT established the "Special Award(Pioneering Activity Category)" to commend activities that have been highly evaluatedfor their contributions to infrastructure development around the world.
The 5th Japan Construction International Award ceremony was held on June 17, 2022.
For the 5th Japan Construction International Award, 4 projects were awarded for the“Construction Project Category,” 1 company was awarded for the “Small and Midiumsized Enterprises Category,” and 3 projects were awarded for the “Special Award(Pioneering Activity Category).”
Please check about the 5th Japan Construction International Award from the link below.
https://www.mlit.go.jp/JCIA/en/award/5/
You can also download the 5th Japan Construction International Award brochure fromthe link below.
https://www.mlit.go.jp/JCIA/en/content/Japacon_brochure_5th.pdf

12About IDI and IDI-quarterly
Infrastructure Development Institute-Japan (IDI) is a general incorporated
association operating under the guidance of Ministry of Land, Infrastructure,
Transport and Tourism of Japanese Government.
IDI provides consulting services to facilitate international assistance to developing
countries, to promote international exchange of information and human resources,
and to support globalization of project implementation systems targeting bothdeveloped and developing countries in the field of infrastructure.
IDI has been publishing a free quarterly journal called “IDI Quarterly” since1996 to
introduce information related to public works and construction technologies
developed in Japan, to foreign countries. We have distributed the journal toadministration officials in more than 90 countries around the world via e-mail.
It will be highly appreciated if you could send us your opinions, impressions, etc.
regarding the articles.
We also welcome your specific requests regrading technologies you would like to
see on following Quarterly issues.

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