Plaxis 2D Numerical Analysis of Encased Stone Column in Soft Clay

Abstract

AbstractStrengthening soft soil ground with different techniques requires several tries with available material and properties of the same. Widely accepted soft ground strengthening technique is ordinary stone column (OSC), and it is encased with geosynthetic material, known as Geosynthetic Encased Stone Column (GESC). In this paper, different stone column (SC) parameters are tested with finite element method in Plaxis 2D software Version 8.6 and analyzed with load settlement observations. SC use with or without encasement is found more effective and sustainable as it provided strengthening feature. Three models of soft clay, baseline clay model, OSC and GESC, were tested with some constant variables like loading in center with same plate and water table at 300 mm from top of model. Result of increase in bearing capacity and decrease in settlement with these three axisymmetric models was compared. The selected property geosynthetic geotextile material is found suitable to encase the SC as it laterally confined SC with avoidance of bulging and improved load settlement curve nature.KeywordsFinite elementSoft soil improvement techniquesStone columnNumerical analysisGeosynthetic