Consolidation of Soft Soil Layer: Numerical Investigation and Perspective for the Utilization of Hard Coal Ash Discharged from Thermal Power Plants for the Ground Improvement Action

Abstract

In this paper the results of the study about ground improvement using piles of ash mixed material discharged from the thermal power plants are presented. Using Finite Element Method, the study investigates the settlement behavior and consolidation process of an improved soft soil layer using granular column. In the first part of the paper, the mechanical properties of the materials are shown. Several laboratory tests are performed to calibrate the material models using in the numerical simulations. The material model “Anisotropic Visco-Hypoplastic” for the time dependent behavior of the soft soil will be presented. The calibrate procedure of this model is explained in the second part of the paper. The results of the numerical investigation were presented and discussed.