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Axi-symmetric Analysis of Geosynthetic-reinforced Granular Fill-soft Soil System with Group of Stone Columns

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Abstract

The paper presents a mechanical model to predict the behavior of geosynthetic-reinforced granular fill resting over soft soil improved with group of stone columns subjected to circular or axi-symmetric loading. The saturated soft soil has been idealized by spring-dashpot system. Pasternak shear layer and rough elastic membrane represent the granular fill and geosynthetic reinforcement layer, respectively. The stone columns are idealized by stiffer springs. The nonlinear behavior of granular fill and soft soil is considered. Consolidation of the soft soil due to inclusion of stone columns has also been included in the model. The results obtained by using the present model when compared with the reported results obtained from laboratory model tests shows very good agreement. The effectiveness of geosynthetic reinforcement to reduce the maximum and differential settlement and transfer the stress from soft soil to stone columns is highlighted. It is observed that the reduction of settlement and stress transfer process are greatly influenced by stiffness and spacing of the stone columns. It has been further observed that for both geosynthetic-reinforced and unreinforced cases, the maximum settlement does not change if the ratio between spacing and diameter of stone columns is greater than 4.

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Abbreviations

a :

Radius of circular loading

b :

Radius of geosynthetic-reinforced zone

d c :

Diameter of the stone column

E c :

Elastic modulus of the stone column material

E s :

Elastic modulus of the soft soil

G b0 :

Initial shear modulus of the bottom granular fill layer

\( G_{b0}^{*} \) :

Normalized G b0

G t0 :

Initial shear modulus of the top granular fill layer

\( G_{t0}^{*} \) :

Normalized G 0t

H b :

Thickness of the bottom granular fill layer

H t :

Thickness of the top granular fill layer

H s :

Thickness of the soft soil

K 0 :

Coefficient of lateral stress

k c0 :

Modulus of subgrade reaction for stone columns

k s0 :

Initial modulus of subgrade reaction for soft foundation soil

n s :

Stress concentration ratio

q :

Uniform footing pressure on the top granular layer

q * :

Normalized q

q c :

Vertical reaction pressure of the stone columns

q * c :

Normalized q c

q s :

Vertical reaction pressure of the soft foundation soil

\( q_{s}^{*} \) :

Normalized q s

q u :

Ultimate bearing capacity of the soft soil

\( q_{u}^{*} \) :

Normalized q u

r :

Radial distance from centre of loading

R :

Normalized r

s :

Spacing between stone columns

T :

Mobilized tension in the geosynthetic layer

T * :

Normalized T

t :

Time

t c :

Thickness of the equivalent ring

U :

Degree of consolidation

w :

Vertical displacement

w :

Normalized w

α :

Spring constant ratio

μ t , μ b :

Interface friction at the top and bottom of the geosynthetic layer

ν c :

Poisson ratio of the stone column material

ν s :

Poisson ratio of the soft soil

ϕ:

Angle of shearing resistance

τ b :

Shear stresses in the bottom granular layer

\( \tau_{b}^{*} \) :

Normalized τ b

τ t :

Shear stresses in the top granular layer

\( \tau_{t}^{*} \) :

Normalized τ t

\( \tau_{u} \) :

Ultimate shear resistance of the granular layer

\( \tau_{u}^{*} \) :

Normalized \( \tau_{u} \)

\( \tau_{ub} \) :

Ultimate shear resistance of the bottom granular layer

\( \tau_{ub}^{*} \) :

Normalized \( \tau_{ub} \)

\( \tau_{ut} \) :

Ultimate shear resistance of the top granular layer

\( \tau_{ut}^{*} \) :

Normalized \( \tau_{ut} \)

θ:

Slope of the membrane

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur, 721302, India

    Kousik Deb

  2. Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Kanpur, 208016, India

    P. K. Basudhar

  3. School of Civil Engineering, Surveying and Construction, University of Kwazulu-Natal, Howard College Campus, Durban, South Africa

    S. Chandra

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  1. Kousik Deb
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  2. P. K. Basudhar
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  3. S. Chandra
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Correspondence to Kousik Deb.

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Deb, K., Basudhar, P.K. & Chandra, S. Axi-symmetric Analysis of Geosynthetic-reinforced Granular Fill-soft Soil System with Group of Stone Columns. Geotech Geol Eng 28, 177–186 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10706-009-9291-y

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