Bearing Capacity of Group of Stone Columns with Granular Blankets

Abstract

In this research, the bearing capacity of group of floating stone columns with granular blankets was studied using laboratory tests. To investigate the effect of geosynthetic reinforcement on the bearing capacity of these stone columns, geotextiles and geogrids were used for the reinforcement of the stone columns and blankets, respectively. In this paper, certain large body laboratory tests were performed on stone columns with a diameter of 60 mm and lengths of 200 and 350 mm. The main objective of this research is to evaluate the bearing capacity of group of stone columns with granular blankets, record the stress concentration ratio in the group of stone columns without blankets, and investigate the load ratio parameter. The results indicate that the simultaneous application of group of stone columns and granular blankets significantly increased the ultimate bearing capacity of soft soils. Using geosynthetics for the reinforcement of granular blankets or stone columns improved the efficiency of these granular blankets or stone columns. As length of stone columns increased or stone columns were encased in geotextiles, the stress concentration ratio and stiffness of such stone columns were increased. Increasing the length of the short stone columns is more efficient than reinforcing them. Bulging was decreased in reinforced and unreinforced stone columns that were placed under the granular blanket.