Skip to main content
Log in

Experimental Study on the Load-Carrying Capacity of Single Stone Columns

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
International Journal of Geosynthetics and Ground Engineering Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Stone columns are considered as one of the influential soil-stabilising methods that can increase the strength and workability of soft soil foundations considerably. In order to enhance stone columns workability, in this experimental study, some laboratory tests were carried out on different columns. They consist of various gravel shapes and particles distributions and columns reinforced by steel fibre reinforcements as well. Some additional tests were also conducted on columns covered by an ordinary gravel mattress reinforced by geotextile. In addition, stone columns with diameters of 63 and 92 mm were tested with a length-to-diameter ratio of 5. The test results were compared with different shapes of geotextiles, such as routine (full-length sleeve) and ring shapes, as the encasing material. It has been observed that using the mattress, geotextile and steel-fibre reinforcements enhances the load-carrying capacity of them that provide a basis for reasonable predictions on their settlement behaviour.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14
Fig. 15
Fig. 16
Fig. 17
Fig. 18
Fig. 19
Fig. 20

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

OSC:

Ordinary stone column

RESC:

Ringed encased stone column

OGM:

Ordinary gravel mattress

ESC:

Encased stone column

SFRC:

Steel fibre-reinforced stone columns

HRGM:

Horizontal-reinforced gravel mattress

References

  1. Bergado D, Singh N, Sim S, Panichayatum B, Sampaco C, Balasubramaniam A (1990) Improvement of soft Bangkok clay using vertical geotextile band drains compared with granular piles. Geotext Geomembr 9(3):203–231

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Black J, Sivakumar V, McKinley JD (2007) Performance of clay samples reinforced with vertical granular columns. Can Geotech J 44(1):89–95. https://doi.org/10.1139/t06-081

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Miranda M, Da Costa A (2016) Laboratory analysis of encased stone columns. Geotext Geomembr 44(3):269–277

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Hasan M, Samadhiya NK (2018) Soft soils improvement by granular piles reinforced with horizontal geogrid strips. Int J Geotech Eng 12(1):101–108. https://doi.org/10.1080/19386362.2016.1252139

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Dash SK, Bora MC (2013) Improved performance of soft clay foundations using stone columns and geocell-sand mattress. Geotext Geomembr 41:26–35

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Mohanty P, Samanta M (2015) Experimental and numerical studies on response of the stone column in layered soil. Int J Geosynth Gr Eng 1:1–14

    Google Scholar 

  7. Rajagopal K, Krishnaswamy NR, Latha GM (1999) Behaviour of sand confined with single and multiple geocells. Geotext Geomembr 17:171–181

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Muzammil SP, Varghese RM, Joseph J (2018) Numerical simulation of the response of geosynthetic encased stone columns under oil storage tank. Int J Geosynth Gr Eng 4:4

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Ng KS, Tan SA (2015) Stress transfer mechanism in 2D and 3D unit cell models for stone column improved ground. Int J Geosynth Gr Eng 1:1–9

    Google Scholar 

  10. Hasan M, Samadhiya NK (2016) Experimental and numerical analysis of geosynthetic-reinforced floating granular piles in soft clays. Int J Geosynth Gr Eng 2:22:1–3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Huges JMO, Withers NJ (1974) Reinforcing of cohesive soils with stone columns. Gr Eng 7(3):42e49

    Google Scholar 

  12. Fattah MY, Shlash KT, Al-Waily MJM (2011) Stress concentration ratio of model stone columns in soft clays. Geotech Test J ASTM 34(1):1–11

    Google Scholar 

  13. Shahu JT, Reddy YR (2011) Clayey soil reinforced with stone column group: model tests and analyses. J Geotech Geoenviron Eng ASCE 137(12):1265–1274

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Stuedlein AW, Holtz RD (2012) Analysis of footing load tests of aggregate piers in clay. J Geotech Geoenviron Eng ASCE 138(9):1091–1103

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Hong Y-S, Wu C-S, Yu Y-S (2016) Model tests on geotextile-encased granular columns under 1-g and undrained conditions. Geotext Geomembr 44(1):13–27

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  16. Ali K, Shahu JT, Sharma KG (2012) Model tests on geosynthetic-reinforced stone columns: a comparative study. Geosynth Int 19(4):292–305

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Ali K, Shahu JT, Sharma KG (2014) Model tests on single and groups of stone columns with different geosynthetic reinforcement arrangement. Geosynth Int 21(2):103–118

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Chen JF, Li LY, Xue JF, Feng SZ (2015) Failure mechanism of geosynthetic encased stone columns in soft soils under embankment. Geotext Geomembr 43(5):424–431

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Murugesan S, Rajagopal K (2007) Model tests on geosynthetic-encased stone columns. Geosynth Int 14(6):346–354

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Murugesan S, Rajagopal K (2010) Studies on the behaviour of single and group of geosynthetic encased stone columns. J Geotech Geoenviron Eng ASCE 136(1):129–139

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Gniel J, Bouazza A (2009) Improvement of soft soils using geogrid encased stone columns. Geotext Geomembr 27(3):167–175

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Yoo C, Lee D (2012) Performance of geogrid-encased stone columns in soft ground: full-scale load tests. Geosynth Int 19(6):480–490

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Sivakumar V, Jeludine DKNM, Bell A, Glyn DT, Mackinnon P (2011) The pressure distribution along stone columns in soft clay under consolidation and foundation loading. Geotechnique 61(7):613–620

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Wu CS, Hong YS (2009) Laboratory tests on geosynthetic encapsulated sand columns. Geotext Geomembr 27:107–120

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Najjar SS, Sadek S, Maakaroun T (2010) Effect of sand columns on the undrained load response of soft clays. J Geotech Geoenviron Eng ASCE 136(9):1263–1277

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Kim BI, Lee SH (2005) Comparison of bearing capacity characteristics of sand and gravel compaction pile treated ground. KSCE J Civ Eng 9(3):197–203

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Cimentada A, Da Costa A, Canizal J, Sagaseta C (2011) Laboratory study on radial consolidation and deformation in clay reinforced with stone columns. Can Geotech J 48:36–52

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Ghazavi M, Afshar JN (2013) Bearing capacity of geosynthetic encased stone columns. Geotext Geomembr 38:26–36

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. BSI (1989) EN 812, Part 105 Flakiness index. Methods for determination of particle shape. BSI, London

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to S. H. Lajevardi.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Hamidi, M., Lajevardi, S.H. Experimental Study on the Load-Carrying Capacity of Single Stone Columns. Int. J. of Geosynth. and Ground Eng. 4, 26 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40891-018-0142-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40891-018-0142-x

Keywords

Navigation