Experimental Studies on Behaviour of Stone Columns in Layered Soils

Stone columns are found to be effective and economical ground improvement technique in soft grounds. Understanding its behaviour when they are installed in stratified soils, in particular when the upper layer consists of weak soil, will be of great practical significance. This paper presents results from a series of laboratory plate load tests carried out in unit cell tanks to investigate the behaviour of stone columns in layered soils, consisting of weak soft clay overlying a relatively stronger silty soil, for various thicknesses of the top layer. Tests were carried out with two types of loading (1) the entire area in the unit cell tank loaded, to estimate the stiffness of improved ground and (2) only the stone column loaded, to estimate the limiting axial capacity. Laboratory tests were carried out on a column of 90 mm diameter surrounded by layered soil, for an area ratio of 15%. It is found that the depth of top weak layer thickness has a significant influence on the stiffness, load bearing capacity and bulging behavior of stone columns.     

Axial stress–strain relation of encapsulated granular column

The axial stress–strain relations of embedded granular columns encapsulated with flexible reinforcement were evaluated using an analytical procedure based on the cavity expansion method. This proposed method has firstly been verified through an experimental triaxial test on a reinforced sand specimen. A normalized relation was established between the volumetric change and the axial strain of soil to enable the analysis of granular material behavior under a continuous increase in lateral pressure. The analytical results show that the reinforced granular columns embedded in clay behave differently from granular columns subjected only to a constant confining pressure. It is found that reinforcing a column with a sleeve at the top portion will be adequate to prevent the column from bulging and also improve its load carrying capacity. The optimum skirting length that a sleeve can deter a granular column from bulging depends on the characteristics of the in situ soil and the stiffness and yield strength of the sleeve.     

包裹碎石桩承载特性试验研究

为了研究包裹碎石桩的承载机制,开展了室内模型试验,对不同套筒长度和刚度的包裹碎石桩承载力、端阻力、变形和破坏情况等进行了分析。试验中利用自制的桩体径向变形测量仪监测了桩体的径向变形情况。试验结果表明：当桩体支承在坚硬土层时,全长包裹碎石桩有效提高碎石桩的承载力和刚度,且采用弹性模量较大的土工材料套筒,包裹碎石桩的极限承载力和刚度也较大,部分包裹碎石桩（包裹长度为0.6倍桩长）相对于碎石桩优势不明显。这是因为部分包裹碎石桩和全长包裹的承载特性、变形特点和破坏模式均存在差异。全长包裹碎石桩传递至桩底端的荷载大于部分包裹碎石桩和碎石桩的。与部分包裹碎石桩和碎石桩比较,全长包裹碎石桩桩身变形分布较为均匀,同一应力作用下,桩身最大径向变形量较小。此外,全长包裹碎石桩刺入顶部褥垫层发生破坏,而部分包裹碎石桩发生鼓胀破坏。     

Three-dimensional DEM analysis of single geogrid-encased stone columns under unconfined compression: a parametric study

Three-dimensional discrete element method (DEM) was employed in this study to analyze the behavior of single geogrid-encased stone columns under unconfined compression. Four important parameters were investigated to understand and evaluate their effects on the behavior of the encased columns by seven DEM models. The biaxial geogrid used as an encasement material for stone columns was simulated using parallel-bonded particles, and the aggregate in the stone column was simulated using graded particles. Both the macroscopic responses (e.g., vertical pressure–strain curves) and the microscopic interactions (e.g., contact force, coordination number, and sliding fraction) of the columns under unconfined compression were analyzed and are presented in this paper. The numerical results show that the geogrid encasement with high tensile stiffness could provide high confining stresses and then effectively increased the bearing capacity of the column. The short column yielded quickly even though its column modulus at a small deformation was relatively high. The modulus of the column slightly decreased with an increase in the column diameter due to high circumferential strains mobilized in the geogrid encasement. The column with large aggregate was stiffer and deformed less than the column with small aggregate. Selecting aggregate with a size larger than the geogrid aperture size was an effective way to achieve better interlocking between the aggregate and the geogrid and to minimize mass loss for the geogrid-encased stone column under loading. Due to limited deformation allowed by the geogrid encasement, a coefficient of radial stress equal to half of the coefficient of passive earth pressure was suggested to estimate the ultimate bearing capacity of the geosynthetic-encased stone column.     

Finite Element Analysis of Geogrid Encased Stone Columns

Stone columns in soft soil improve bearing capacity because they are stiffer than the material which they replace, and compacted stone columns produce shearing resistances which provide vertical support for overlying structures or embankments. Also stone columns accelerate the consolidation in the native surrounding soil and improve the load settlement characteristics of foundation. In this paper, the finite element method is utilized as a tool for carrying out analyses of stone column–soil systems under different conditions. A trial is made to improve the behaviour of stone column by encasing the stone column with geogrid as reinforcement material. The program CRISP-2D is used in the analysis of problems. The program allows prediction to be made of soil deformations considering Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion for elastic–plastic soil behaviour. A parametric study is carried out to investigate the behaviour of standard and encased floating stone columns in different conditions. Different parameters were studied to show their effect on the bearing improvement and settlement reduction of the stone column. These include the length to diameter ratio (L/d), shear strength of the surrounding soil and, the area replacement ratio (a_s) and others. It was found that the maximum effective length to diameter (L/d) ratio is between (7–8) for Cu, between (20–40) kPa and between (10–11) for Cu?=?10?kPa for ordinary floating stone columns while the effective (L/d) ratio is between (7–8) for encased floating stone columns. The increase in the area replacement ratio increases the bearing improvement ratio for encased floating stone columns especially when the area replacement ratio is greater than (0.25). The geogrid encasement of stone column greatly decreases the lateral displacement compared with ordinary stone column.     

竖向荷载下加筋碎石桩复合地基数值分析

采用三维有限元程序建立了一长为6 m、直径为0.8 m的加筋碎石桩复合地基流固耦合数值模型,分析了其在堆载和孔压消散过程中的荷载传递和变形特性。较传统碎石桩,加筋碎石桩复合地基桩土应力比显著增大,超孔压、沉降和桩身侧向变形显著减小,且随筋材刚度的增大,其性能进一步改善。加筋碎石桩复合地基在桩间土固结过程中产生明显的桩土差异沉降,形成土拱效应,使得堆载结束后桩土应力比变化很小。筋材长度对加筋碎石桩复合地基桩土应力比和沉降影响显著,应对其全长加筋才能保证桩体刚度和有效减少沉降。     

Nonlinear analysis of footings on granular bed–stone column improved soft soil

In this paper, a model for the analysis of footings having finite flexural rigidity resting on a granular bed on top of stone columns improved saturated soft (clayey) soil has been proposed. Soft soil has been modeled as a Kelvin–Voigt body to represent its time dependent behavior. Pasternak shear layer has been used to represent the granular layer and the stone columns have been idealized by means of nonlinear Winkler springs. Nonlinear behavior of granular fill, soft soil and stone columns has been invoked by means of hyperbolic constitutive relationships. Governing differential equations for the soil–foundation system have been obtained and finite difference method has been adopted for solving these, using the Gauss-elimination iterative scheme. Detailed parametric study for a combined footing has been carried out to study the influence of parameters, like magnitude of applied load, flexural rigidity of footing, diameter of stone column, spacing of stone column, ultimate bearing capacity of granular fill, poor foundation soil and stone column, relative stiffness of stone columns and degree of consolidation, on flexural response of the footing.     

A Critical Review of Construction, Analysis and Behaviour of Stone Columns

Stone columns have been used as an effective technique for improving the engineering behaviour of soft clayey grounds and loose silt deposits. The soil improvement via stone columns are achieved from accelerating the consolidation of weak soil due to shortened drainage path, increasing the load carrying capacity and/or settlement reduction due to inclusion of stronger granular material. This paper discusses the techniques, methods of construction of stone columns, mechanisms of stone column behaviour under load and associated design philosophies along with some practical findings from recent research programs.     

Improvement of soft clay using installation of geosynthetic-encased stone columns: numerical study

The use of geosynthetic-encased stone columns as a method for soft soil treatment is extensively used to increase the bearing capacity and reduce the settlement of raft foundations and the foundation of structures like embankments. Pre-strain is an effect occurring in the encasement during stone column installation due to the compaction of the stone material. The present study uses the finite element program Plaxis to perform a numerical analysis of the soft clay bed reinforced by geosynthetic-encased stone columns. An idealization is proposed for simulation of installation of geosynthetic-encased stone columns in soft clay based on the unit-cell concept. In the analyses, initially, the validity of the analysis of the single column-reinforced soil in the unit-cell model was performed through comparison with the group columns. Then, by considering a unit-cell model, the finite element analyses were carried out to evaluate the stiffness of the reinforced ground to estimate the settlement. The results of the analyses show that the improved stiffness of the encased stone column is not only due to the confining pressure offered by the geosynthetic after loading, but the initial strain of the geosynthetic that occurred during installation also contributes to the enhancement of the stiffness of the stone column and the reduction of the settlement.     

Numerical analysis under seismic loads of soils improvement with floating stone columns

Geotechnical Engineering has developed many methods for soil improvement so far. One of these methods is the stone column method. The structure of a stone column generally refers to partial change of suitable subsurface ground through a vertical column, poor stone layers which are completely pressed. In general terms, to improve bearing capacity of problematic soft and loose soil is implemented for the resolution of many problems such as consolidation and grounding problems, to ensure filling and splitting slope stability and liquefaction that results from a dynamic load such as earthquake. In this study, stone columns method is preferred as an improvement method, and especially load transfer mechanisms and bearing capacity of floating stone column are focused. The soil model, 32 m in width and 8 m in depth, used in this study is made through Plaxis 2D finite element program. The clay having 5° internal friction angle with different cohesion coefficients (c 10, c 15, c 20 kN/m²) are used in models. In addition, stone columns used for soil improvement are modeled at different internal friction angles (? 35°, ? 40°, ? 45°) and in different s/D ranges (s/D 2, s/D 3), stone column depths (B, 2B, 3B) and diameters (D 600 mm, D 800 mm, D 1000 mm). In the study, maximum acceleration (a _max = 1.785 m/s²) was used in order to determine the seismic coefficient used. In these soil models, as maximum acceleration, maximum east–west directional acceleration value of Van Muradiye earthquake that took place in October 23, 2011 was used. As a result, it was determined that the stone column increased the bearing capacity of the soil. In addition, it is observed that the bearing capacity of soft clay soil which has been improved through stone column with both static and earthquake load effect increases as a result of increase in the diameter and depth of the stone column and decreases as a result of the increase in the ranges of stone column. In the conducted study, the bearing capacity of the soil models, which were improved with stone column without earthquake force effect, was calculated as 1.01–3.5 times more on the average, compared to the bearing capacity of the soil models without stone column. On the other hand, the bearing capacity of the soil models with stone columns, which are under the effect of earthquake force, was calculated as 1.02–3.7 times more compared to the bearing capacity of the soil models without stone column.     

Finite element modelling of laterally loaded lime–cement columns using a damage plasticity model

The behaviour of laterally loaded lime–cement columns in a shear box was studied. Laboratory tests are presented together with numerical analyses where the columns are simulated by a concrete damage plasticity model that considers stiffness degradation. Seven model tests were investigated where the columns were installed in a single column pattern and in rows with different column overlap in order to investigate the influence of the degree of overlapping of the columns in the rows. The results of the numerical evaluations showed good agreement with the experimental shear stress–displacement relation and a good accuracy with respect to the fractures developed.     

强夯碎石墩处治“山地型”软土路基的变形特征研究

为明确填方路堤荷载下强夯碎石墩的变形特征与其路堤稳定性的内在关联,针对“山地型”软土地区某高速铁路车站高填方路堤的失稳破坏现象,基于现场实测数据和三维数值分析模型,着重研究了不同位置强夯碎石墩墩体的鼓胀变形与侧向弯曲变形规律,并定义墩体鼓胀率和最大侧向弯曲值对其变形特征予以描述。研究结果表明:路堤荷载作用下不同位置的强夯碎石墩发生不同程度的鼓胀变形和侧向弯曲变形,其中鼓胀变形主要由上覆路堤荷载所产生的压缩鼓胀和路堤侧滑所产生的滑动剪切鼓胀所组成,且其最大鼓胀变形区域集中在距桩端1~2倍桩直径范围内;位于强夯碎石墩复合地基潜在滑裂面剪入口附近墩体的鼓胀率最大(0.75%),约为路堤中心处墩体鼓胀率的1.5倍,表明该处以滑动剪切鼓胀变形为主。沿路堤中心线向外不同位置的强夯碎石墩墩体的最大侧向弯曲变形的发展规律近似呈三段线模式,其中潜在滑裂面剪入口附近的17#墩体为其侧向弯曲变形开始陡增的拐点,表明17#与其附近墩体为控制路堤侧向变形与稳定的关键构件。路堤填筑过程中所出现数条裂缝的原因可能在于强夯碎石墩的剪切破坏而致使路堤出现整体滑移所引起的,建议在采用散体材料桩复合地基处治“山地型”软弱地基时,应配合其他加固措施以确保填方路堤的整体稳定性。     

Experimental Study of Bearing Capacity of Granular Soils,Reinforced with Innovative Grid-Anchor System

The pull-out resistance of reinforcing elements is one of the most significant factors in increasing the bearing capacity of geosynthetic reinforced soils. In this research a new reinforcing element that includes elements (anchors) attached to ordinary geogrid for increasing the pull-out resistance of reinforcements is introduced. Reinforcement therefore consists of geogrid and anchors with cubic elements that attached to the geogrid, named (by the authors) Grid-Anchor. A total of 45 load tests were performed to investigate the bearing capacity of square footing on sand reinforced with this system. The effect of depth of the first reinforcement layer, the vertical spacing, the number and width of reinforcement layers, the distance that anchors are effective, effect of relative density, low strain stiffness and stiffness after local shear were investigated. Laboratory tests showed that when a single layer of reinforcement is used there is an optimum reinforcement embedment depth for which the bearing capacity is the greatest. There also appeared to be an optimum vertical spacing of reinforcing layers for multi-layer reinforced sand. The bearing capacity was also found to increase with increasing number of reinforcement layer, if the reinforcement were placed within a range of effective depth. The effect of soil density also is investigated. Finally the results were compared with the bearing capacity of footings on non-reinforced sand and sand reinforced with ordinary geogrid and the advantages of the Grid-Anchor were highlighted. Test results indicated that the use of Grid-Anchor to reinforce the sand increased the ultimate bearing capacity of shallow square footing by a factor of 3.0 and 1.8 times compared to that for un-reinforced soil and soil reinforced with ordinary geogrid, respectively.     

碎石桩设计参数对复合地基抗液化性能的影响

对碎石桩复合地基进行完全耦合的三维有效应力动力分析,探讨了碎石桩桩径、桩长和桩间距等设计参数对碎石桩复合地基抗液化性能的影响。结果表明,浅层范围内桩长对孔压比的影响较小,随深度的增大,桩长的影响有增大的趋势;在其他条件不变的情况下,随桩径的增大,桩间土中的超孔隙水压力降低,桩径对超孔压发展的影响沿深度方向不同,主要表现在中下部;当仅改变桩间距时,随桩间距的增大,桩间土中的超孔压升高,在工程设计时,桩径与桩间距的比值宜大于0.27,即桩间距的设计值不宜超过3.75D（D为碎石桩桩径）;随碎石桩本身渗透系数的增加,复合地基中不同深度处的超孔压都有所降低,并且随深度的增大,这种影响有增大的趋势。     

Performance of geosynthetic-reinforced granular piles in soft clays: Model tests and numerical analysis

The laboratory model tests and numerical analyses have been performed on reinforced granular piles installed in very soft clay. The granular piles were reinforced with geosynthetic in the form of vertical encasement, horizontal strips and combined vertical-horizontal reinforcement. The short term-displacement control model tests were carried out either only a granular pile loaded or with an entire area loaded. The laboratory results in the form of vertical load intensity-settlement behaviour were compared with that obtained from FEM software, PLAXIS 3D. The results indicated significant improvement in ultimate load intensity and stiffness of treated ground due to inclusion of geosynthetic.     

Experimental Investigation on the Bearing Capacity of Stone Columns with Granular Blankets

Using stone columns is an efficient method to increase the bearing capacity of soft soils. This has led to an increased interest in further developing and improving the method. In addition, granular blankets are used to increase the bearing capacity of the stone columns. In this research, the bearing capacity of stone columns, granular blankets, and a combination of both methods in reinforced and unreinforced modes was examined using large-scale laboratory tests. A scale factor of 1–10 is used for the geometry of the models, and the stone columns are a floating type that are 60 mm in diameter and 350 mm in length. These columns are either reinforced with vertical encasement of a geotextile or they are unreinforced. The granular blankets are either reinforced by using a biaxial geogrid or they are unreinforced with 40 and 75 mm thicknesses. In general, 16 large experimental tests have been carried out. Results indicate that using all these variations (granular blankets, stone columns, and a combination of both) improves bearing capacity. Using geogrid as the reinforcement of granular blankets and geotextile as stone-column encasement increases the efficiency of granular blankets and stone columns significantly. The maximum bearing capacity was obtained when reinforced granular blankets and reinforced stone columns were combined. The stress-concentration ratio and bearing capacity increased as geotextile encasement was used in the stone columns.     

沉管挤密抗拔防浮碎石桩的抗拔承载力计算分析

基于现场试验检测结果,分析了沉管干振挤密抗拔防浮碎石桩在砂土中的抗拔破坏模式和应力传递机理,运用极限平衡原理研究了抗拔承载力,得到了极限抗拔承载力计算公式,并利用公式对工程实测结果进行了分析比较,表明两者较为一致。现场试验表明,未达破坏荷载前,抗拔碎石桩的抗拔承载力与变形有较明显的线性关系;抗拔碎石桩破坏性状明显,能明确得到抗拔碎石桩的破坏荷载。     

An analytical solution for the settlement of stone columns beneath rigid footings

This paper presents a new approximate solution to study the settlement of rigid footings resting on a soft soil improved with groups of stone columns. The solution development is fully analytical, but finite element analyses are used to verify the validity of some assumptions, such as a simplified geometric model, load distribution with depth and boundary conditions. Groups of stone columns are converted to equivalent single columns with the same cross-sectional area. So, the problem becomes axially symmetric. Soft soil is assumed as linear elastic, but plastic strains are considered in the column using the Mohr–Coulomb yield criterion and a non-associated flow rule, with a constant dilatancy angle. Soil profile is divided into independent horizontal slices, and equilibrium of stresses and compatibility of deformations are imposed in the vertical and horizontal directions. The solution is presented in a closed form and may be easily implemented in a spreadsheet. Comparisons of the proposed solution with numerical analyses show a good agreement for the whole range of common values, which confirms the validity of the solution and its hypotheses. The solution also compares well with a small-scale laboratory test available in the literature.     

Stone column effectiveness in soils with creep: a numerical study

While it is well established that vibro stone columns reduce primary settlement and improve bearing capacity, their effect on creep compression has largely been overlooked to date. However, with increasing pressure to develop marginal sites underlain by soft organic soils, the effect of ground treatment on creep is an important emerging issue in geotechnical engineering. In this paper, a series of axisymmetric unit cell analyses have been carried out using the PLAXIS 2D finite element program in conjunction with the Soft Soil Creep (SSC) model. Examination of the evolution of settlement improvement factor with time has indicated that the presence of creep leads to a lower ‘total’ improvement factor than would be obtained for primary consolidation settlement alone. Separate ‘primary’ and ‘creep’ improvement factors have also been derived; the latter are much lower than the former, but are nevertheless greater than unity. Creep results in a stress transfer process; as the soil creeps, vertical stress is transferred from the soil to the stone column. The additional load carried by the column induces additional yielding and shear-plane formation in closely-spaced columns. The additional increment of stress transferred to the already yielded column reduces its efficacy.     

Vertical bearing capacity behaviour of single T-shaped soil–cement column in soft ground: laboratory modelling,field test,and calculation

The T-shaped soil–cement column is a variable-diameter column, which has an enlarged column cap at the shallow depth, resulting in the column shape being analogous to the letter “T”. In this study, 1-g laboratory and full-scale field loading tests were employed to investigate the vertical bearing capacity behaviour of a single T-shaped column in soft ground. Pressure cells were set in a T-shaped column in the field to measure the vertical column stress above and below the column cap during the loading test. After the loading test, several columns were excavated to investigate their failure modes. The results indicated that, since the section area of the column cap was remarkably higher than that of the deep-depth column, the stress concentration occurred in the deep-depth column just under the cap, leading to column failure. Based on this failure mode, a simplified method was proposed to estimate the ultimate bearing capacity of a single T-shaped column; the comparison of estimated and measured results indicated the applicability of the proposed method.