Bearing Capacity Improvement of Shallow Foundations Using Cement-Stabilized Sand

Abstract

In order to attain a satisfactory level of safety and stability in the construction of structures on weak soil, one of the best solutions can be soil improvement. The addition of a certain percentage of some materials to the soil may compensate for its deficiency. Cement is a suitable material to be used for stabilization and modification of a wide variety of soils. By using this material, the engineering properties of soil can be improved. In this study, the effect of soil stabilization with cement on the bearing capacity of a shallow foundation was studied by employing finite element method. The material properties were obtained by conducting experimental tests on cement-stabilized sand. Cement varying from 2% to 8% by soil dry weight was added for stabilization. The effect of reinforced soil block dimensions, foundation width and cement content were investigated. From the results, it can be figured out that by stabilizing the soil below the foundation to certain dimensions with the necessary cement content, the bearing capacity of the foundation will increase to an acceptable level.