Settlement evaluation of soft clay reinforced with stone columns using the equivalent secant modulus

A method is proposed to evaluate settlement of soft clay reinforced with stone columns. Finite element analyses were carried out using 15-noded triangular elements with PLAXIS. A drained analysis was carried out using Mohr?CCoulomb??s criterion for soft clay, stones, and sand. The stress due to column installation has been considered in the analysis. At the interface between the stone column and soft clay, interface elements have been used. The settlement ratio (SR) of the soil has been estimated using the equivalent secant modulus. The results are compared with those available in the literature, and the advantages of the numerical analysis were highlighted. Based on the results of this analysis, the SR decrease with compaction surrounding soft soil, but decrease of SR is mainly due to a stiffer column material in soft clay.