Analysis of stone column-supported geosynthetic-reinforced embankments

In the present paper, the behavior of stone column-supported geosynthetic-reinforced embankments has been studied. The soil arching effect is incorporated in the study to determine the stresses acting on stone columns as well as soft soil. The effect of stiffness of the stone column is also incorporated in the present study. Based on the stress action in the improved ground, stress concentration ratio, axial strain of geosynthetic reinforcement, tension developed in it and settlement of the improved soft ground are determined by using the developed methodology. Present analytical method is also verified with several current design methods. It is observed from parametric studies that modular ratio or stiffness of the stone columns, spacing to diameter ratio, height of the embankment, depth of the soft soil, stiffness of the geosynthetic reinforcement significantly affect the behavior of geosynthetic-reinforced stone column-supported embankments resting on soft soil.

[1]  Siew-Ann Tan,et al.  Simplified Plane-Strain Modeling of Stone-Column Reinforced Ground , 2008 .

[2]  Kousik Deb,et al.  Settlement Response of Stone Column-Improved Soft Soil Due to Embankment Loading , 2011 .

[3]  Jun-jie Zheng,et al.  A simplified method for analysis of a piled embankment reinforced with geosynthetics , 2009 .

[4]  I. C. Pyrah,et al.  Finite element modelling of vertical drains beneath embankments on soft ground , 1992 .

[5]  K. Rajagopal,et al.  Geosynthetic-encased stone columns: Numerical evaluation , 2006 .

[6]  Kousik Deb,et al.  A mathematical model to study the soil arching effect in stone column-supported embankment resting on soft foundation soil , 2010 .

[7]  Adam Bezuijen,et al.  Analysis and modification of the British Standard BS8006 for the design of piled embankments , 2011 .

[8]  V. Choa,et al.  Arching in Piled Embankments , 1994 .

[9]  Harry G. Poulos,et al.  Settlement analysis of soft clays reinforced with granular piles , 1977 .

[10]  José Leitão Borges,et al.  Embankments on Soft Soil Reinforced with Stone Columns: Numerical Analysis and Proposal of a New Design Method , 2009 .

[11]  Lidija Zdravković,et al.  Finite-element study of arching behaviour in reinforced fills , 2010 .

[12]  R. H. Plaut,et al.  Analysis of geosynthetic reinforcement in pile-supported embankments. Part III: Axisymmetric model , 2010 .

[13]  Chen Yun-min,et al.  An experimental investigation of soil arching within basal reinforced and unreinforced piled embankments , 2008 .

[14]  Daniel Dias,et al.  Two-Dimensional Physical and Numerical Modeling of a Pile-Supported Earth Platform over Soft Soil , 2007 .

[15]  Hai-Sui Yu,et al.  Plane strain FE analysis of arching in a piled embankment , 2010 .

[16]  Jinchun Chai,et al.  BEHAVIOR OF VERTICAL DRAIN IMPROVED SUBSOIL UNDER EMBANKMENT LOADING , 1995 .

[17]  R. H. Plaut,et al.  Analysis of geosynthetic reinforcement in pile-supported embankments. Part I: 3D plate model , 2010 .

[18]  Madhira R. Madhav,et al.  Deformation analysis of soft ground reinforced by columnar inclusions , 1996 .

[19]  Buddhima Indraratna,et al.  PLANE-STRAIN MODELING OF SMEAR EFFECTS ASSOCIATED WITH VERTICAL DRAINS. TECHNICAL NOTE , 1997 .

[20]  Buddhima Indraratna,et al.  Numerical modeling of vertical drains with smear and well resistance installed in soft clay , 2000 .

[21]  K. Terzaghi.  Theoretical Soil Mechanics , 1943 .

[22]  Jie Han,et al.  Numerical Analysis of Geosynthetic-Reinforced and Pile-Supported Earth Platforms over Soft Soil , 2002 .