Settlement Behaviour of Soft Clay Bed Reinforced with Stone Column under Sustained Loading

Abstract

This research paper investigates the behaviour of soft clay reinforced with stone column under sustained loading. Experiments were conducted in the laboratory on stone column reinforced prepared soft soil bed of kaolin having strength of 7.5 kPa with aggregate of size 2.5 to 10 mm as column material. The stone column with four diameters of 38.1, 50.8, 63.5 and 76.2mm were constructed which correspond to low to high area replacements ratios (i.e. 6.93% - 26.49%). The plain and reinforced soft clay beds were subjected to a sustained load of 150, 200, 250 and 300 kPa where each applied load has been maintained for 24 hours and the settlement behavior of composite ground was taken into account. The test results represent the settlement of reinforced soil bed decreases with increase of column diameters. The settlement reduction ratio is a measure of ground improvement which increases with area replacement ratio. The experimental and theoretical results values were compared as per IS15284 (Part 1): 2003 with reference of stress concentration ratio ‘n’(The ratio of stress in the column to the stress of surrounding ground area). The % variation in theoretical and experimental results is in the range of 50% and therefore the theoretical procedure needs to be revised.