• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.7 no.5
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• pp.539-552
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• 2014

A simplified probability-based design charts for stone column-improved ground have been presented based on the unit cell approach. The undrained cohesion ($c_u$) and coefficient of radial consolidation ($c_r$) of the soft soil are taken as the most predominant random variables. The design charts are developed to estimate the diameter of the stone column or the spacing between the stone columns by employing a factored design value of $c_r$ and $c_u$ so as to satisfy a specific probability level of the target degree of consolidation and/or a target safe load that needs to be achieved in a specified timeframe. The design charts can be used by the practicing engineers to design the stone column-improved ground by considering consolidation and /or bearing capacity of the improved ground.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.26 no.12
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• pp.61-70
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• 2010

A series of shaking table tests were conducted to estimate the seismic performance of soft ground deposits improved by stone column. The amplification of acceleration, shear strain, and shear wave velocity were evaluated to compare the seismic response of unimproved ground deposits with that of improved ground deposits. From the test results, it was shown that the stone column can prevent large shear deformation in ground deposits. However, it was also found that the acceleration of improved ground deposits may be amplified more than that of unimproved ground deposits when it was subjected to short periodic seismic wave. The results suggest that it is necessary to perform the ground response analysis with model experiments for both unimproved and improved ground deposits to evaluate the effect of stone column on the seismic performance of improved ground deposits.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.22 no.10
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• pp.121-129
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• 2006

Stone column is one of the ground improvement systems which is being used for accelerating consolidation and increasing bearing capacity for settlement sensitive structures like load embankments, bridge abutments, oil storage tanks etc. The effects of this method are enhancement of ground bearing capacity, reduction of settlement, prevention of liquefaction and prevention of lateral ground movement. Recently, geosynthetic reinforced (encased) stone column approach has been developed to improve its load carrying capacity through increasing confinement effect. Although such a concept has successfully been applied in practice, fundamentals of the method have not been fully explored. This paper presents the results of an investigation on the bearing capacity and failure mechanism of geogrid-encased stone column by model tests. The results of the analyses indicated improved bearing capacity of the geogrid reinforced stone column method over the conventional strone column method with no encasing.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.115-124
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• 2012

The responses of stone column-improved ground under seismic loading are investigated using a series of 1g shaking table tests. These tests show similar results to those of one dimensional numerical models for stone column-improved ground based on Baez's assumption on the soil and stone-column interaction. The experimental and numerical results show that the stone column can prevent large shear deformations incurred due to cyclic softening in clayey deposits, but they also show that the surface acceleration in the improved clayey deposits may amplify more than that in unimproved clayey deposits when subjected to short periodic seismic motions.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.195-211
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• 2014

Stone columns (or granular column) have been used to increase the load carrying capacity and accelerating consolidation of soft soil. Recently, the geosynthetic reinforced stone column technique has been developed to improve the load carrying capacity of the stone column. In addition, reinforcement prevents the lateral squeezing of stone in to surrounding soft soil, helps in easy formation of stone column, preserve frictional properties of aggregate and drainage function of the stone column. This paper investigates the improvement of load carrying capacity of isolated ordinary and geotextile reinforced sand column through field load tests. Tests were performed with different reinforcement stiffness, diameter of sand column and reinforcement length. The results of field load test indicated an improved load carrying capacity of geotextile reinforced sand column over ordinary sand column. The increase in load carrying capacity depends upon the sand column diameter, stiffness of reinforcement and reinforcement length. Also, the partial reinforcement length about two to four time's sand column diameter from the top of the column was found to significant effect on the performance of sand column.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2006.03a
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• pp.434-444
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• 2006

The stone column method is widely used in Europe as an alternative to conventional pile foundations. Several benefits of using the stone column method include sound performance, low cost, expediency of construction, and liquiefaction resistance, among others. Recently, geosynthetic-encased stone column approach has been developed to improve its' load carrying capacity through increasing confinement effect. Although such a concept has successfully applied in practice, fundamentals of the method have not been fully explored. This Paper Presents the results of an investigation on the loading carriying capacity of geogrid-encased stone column using a series of 2D finite element analyses. The results of the analyses indicated improved short- and long-term carrying capacity of the geogrid-encased stone column method over the conventional strone column method with no encasing.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.19-25
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• 2007

Stone columns is the ground improvement method which composed of compacted gravel or crushed stone inserted into the soft ground consisting of loose sand and clay. There are many difficulties in quantitative analysis of soil-pile interaction because settlement behavior of stone columns is affected by various parameters. In this study, various parameters of behavior of end-bearing group piles are investigated by load tests. Finally, the improved characteristics of soft ground and the influence of design parameters are investigated in this study using PR (performance ratio) value. From the PR value calculation and test results, we know that settlement behavior of stone columns is affected by area replacement ratio of composite ground, diameter of column rather than embedment ratio and mat.