Simulation of Geosynthetic Encased Stone Column Under Embankment Loading in Soft Clay

Abstract

Use of stone columns has been widely utilized as one of the cost-effective stabilizing methods especially for sites consisting of soft soil. However, the lateral restraint in stone columns may be significantly enhanced by wrapping the stone columns with suitable geosynthetics leading to the increased capacity of the stone column and subsequently resulting in considerable savings in the project cost. The paper presents the results of an analytical study carried out to examine the behavior of stone column placed in soft clay, under both the conditions, i.e., with and without encasement. From the present study, it is concluded that there is considerable reduction in settlements in case of encased stone column as compared to those observed in case of ordinary stone column. Further, for a given stone column, use of aggregates with increasing friction angle in general results in further decrease in settlements. It is also concluded that mobilize stresses in general decrease with increasing diameter of the stone column for both cases while for a given diameter stress mobilization is more in case of encased stone column as compared to that observed in case of ordinary stone column.KeywordsGeosynthetic encased stone columnExcess pore water pressureSettlement