Statistical Analysis on the Static Characteristics of the Geosynthetic Encased Stone Column

The geosynthetic encased stone column is made of stone column encased with geosynthetic encasement. The geosynthetic encased stone column is often used for foundation treatment of roadbeds, dams, buildings and other structures. At present, a series of new developments have been made in the researches of bearing capacity, stress concentration ratio and deformation of the geosynthetic encased stone column. This paper statistically analyzes the three important static characteristics of the geosynthetic encased stone column.

Loading Behavior and Soil-Structure Interaction for a Floating Stone Column under Rigid Foundation: A DEM Study

This paper investigates the loading behavior and soil-structure interaction associated with a floating stone column under rigid foundation by using the discrete element method (DEM). The aggregates and soft soil are simulated by particles with different sizes. The rigid foundation is simulated by two loading plates at the same position with the same velocity. The stress distributions and microscopic interaction between the column and soft soil are investigated. The vertical stress of the column increases with settlement and decreases with the depth. The position of the column with large radial stress also has large deformation, which decreases from top to bottom. The vertical and radial stresses of the soft soil increase with settlement, and the radial stress shows high value in the upper part of soft soil. The stress concentration ratio is obtained by two loading plates, which decreases from 2.5 to 1.55 during loading. The interaction between column and soft soil shows that the column does not penetrate into the underlying stratum but drags the surrounding soil down.

Simplified analytical solution for stress concentration ratio of piled embankments incorporating pile–soil interaction

Piled embankments have been extensively used for high-speed rail over soft soils because of their effectiveness in minimizing differential settlement and shortening the construction period. Stress concentration ratio, defined as the ratio of vertical stress carried by pile heads (or pile caps if applicable) to that by adjacent soils, is a fundamental parameter in the design of piled embankments. In view of the complicated load transfer mechanism in the framework of embankment system, this paper presents a simplified analytical solution for the stress concentration ratio of rigid pile-supported embankments. In the derivation, the effects of cushion stiffness, pile–soil interaction, and pile penetration behavior are considered and examined. A modified linearly elastic-perfectly plastic model was used to analyze the mechanical response of a rigid pile–soil system. The analytical model was verified against field data and the results of numerical simulations from the literature. According to the proposed method, the skin friction distribution, pile–soil relative displacement, location of neural point, and differential settlement between the pile head (or cap) and adjacent soils can be determined. This work serves as a fast algorithm for initial and reasonable approximation of stress concentration ratio on the design aspects of piled embankments.

Study on arching effect in the embankment over pile - reinforced soft soil

The paper employes 3D numerical modeling to analyze the soil arching mechanism within embankment by FLAC3D code, based on the finite difference method (FDM). To consider the pile group effect, the 3D mesh of four pile has been created. Related to the constitutive models, the embankment is used Mohr - Coulomb model, the soft soil is represented by modified Cam - clay model, and footing and piles are employed by elasticity model. The numerical results focus on the soil arching phenomena in terms of stress distribution on piles and soft soil, the stress concentration ratio and the stress reduction ratio. Additionally, the axial force along pile and the settlements of embankment, soft soil and pile are studied.

Influence of gravel density in the behaviour of soft soils improved with stone columns

Stone columns are frequently employed to improve the bearing capacity of soft soils, to reduce settlements, and to increase the speed of consolidation. Their behaviour depends on several factors, such as the density of the aggregate that forms the column and the area replacement ratio. This paper presents a study of the influence of the density of the gravel forming the columns on the deformation and stresses around end-bearing stone columns installed in soft soils. For this purpose, the behaviour of a horizontal slice of a unit cell has been analyzed by small-scale laboratory tests performed in a Rowe–Barden cell. Tests have been performed with a gravel relative density of Dr = 30% and with two area replacement ratios. Their results have been analyzed along with those from similar tests performed with a gravel density of Dr = 100%. The study is focused on the soil–column stress concentration ratio and the reduction of settlements. Finally, the experimental results are compared with numerical simulations. The results show that a reduction of settlements around 10% occurs when the relative density of the gravel increases from Dr = 30% to 100%. Numerical analyses reproduce well the behaviour of stone columns and are in good agreement with the experimental results.

STATIC RESPONSE ON LIME COLUMN AND GEOTEXTILE ENCAPSULATED LIME COLUMN (GELC) STABILISED MARINE CLAY UNDER VERTICAL LOAD

Marine clay, which is widely encountered in coastal area in Malaysia, is a problematic base material. Previous researchers reported that deep lime stabilisation can significantly improve clay. However, insufficient confining pressure from surrounding soil normally lead to the inferior performance on the upper part of column such as column head crushing and larger deformation on the surrounding soil at toppart of column. Therefore, geotextile encapsulation was proposed for lime column in this study. Static response and stress distribution are essential in the understanding on behaviour of columnar stabilised soil under vertical load. Multi stages loading tests were conducted onPontian marine clay, with and without geotextile encapsulation.Stress concentration ratio (σmid/ σsoil) was examined in each loading stage, where it is defined as stress on column (σmid) divided by stress on surrounding soil (σsoil). The samples were cured for 14, 28 and 56 days before tested. It was found that stress concentration ratio was dependent on column materials strength properties and applied loading. Geotextile encapsulation increased the stress concentration ratio on lime column.Stress concentration increment effect by geotextile encapsulation was further enhanced by the confining pressure of surrounding soil; however, the effect reduced with increase of applied loading. Higher stress concentration ratio indicated lesser load on surrounding soil and therefore the soil settlement could be reduced