Research Information System
KSCE JOURNAL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING, vol.26, pp.3402-3415, 2022 (SCI-Expanded)
The scope of this paper is to emphasize the critical issues related to the axisymmetric and plane-strain modelling of single and group of stone columns constructed to stabilise soft soils. A simple technique based on the expansion of the column shaft was used to simulate the column installation so that the excess pore pressures during this process were calculated for a single column under axisymmetric conditions. Classical cavity expansion theory was also used for the same purpose. The group behaviour of stone columns was discussed by two-dimensional plane-strain numerical models. Plane-strain modelling of stone columns should consider the conversion of stiffness and the drainage properties of the columns and the soft soils to the plane-strain conditions. The validity of two different conversion methods based on the equivalent plane-strain stiffness and equivalent plane-strain permeability coupled with the expansion of the column shaft technique were investigated. An existing well-documented centrifuge test data were used as a reference for numerical models of axisymmetric single column and plane-strain column groups. The measured and calculated results were in good agreement for the case where the finite element model was constituted based on the equivalent plane-strain permeability. The results of this study intend to bring insight to the plane-strain modelling of a group of stone columns.