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A State-of-the-Art Review of Stone/Sand-Column Reinforced Clay Systems

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Abstract

This paper presents a state-of-the-art review of published research papers and reports that focus on the modeling, testing, and analysis of soft clays that are reinforced with sand/stone columns in relation to bearing capacity and settlement considerations. The review is presented in chronological order to shed light on the development of this field of research in the last 40+ years. The objective of the study is to assemble published results from field, laboratory, and numerical investigations of sand/stone columns in clay in one resource to provide future researchers and designers with easy access to information and data. The majority of the reviewed papers include an experimental component that is based on field or laboratory scale tests (1-g, triaxial, or centrifuge) conducted on clay specimens reinforced with partially or fully penetrating, encased or ordinary, stone or sand columns that were installed as single columns or as column groups. Some papers included numerical experiments that were based on finite element models, while others presented analytical solutions for modeling the response of the composite system. A compilation of the important findings from physical, numerical, and analytical models in addition to a summary table that facilitates access to information from various research efforts are presented in the paper.

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Acknowledgments

The author would like to acknowledge the University Research Board at the American University of Beirut for funding this work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, American University of Beirut, P.O. Box 11-0236, Riad El-Solh, Beirut, 1107-2020, Lebanon

    Shadi S. Najjar

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  1. Shadi S. Najjar
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Correspondence to Shadi S. Najjar.

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Najjar, S.S. A State-of-the-Art Review of Stone/Sand-Column Reinforced Clay Systems. Geotech Geol Eng 31, 355–386 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10706-012-9603-5

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