Cairo University

Faculty of Engineering
Public Work Department

Scope Statement for

D Finite Element Study of the Behavior of Stone 3]
[Columns

Prof. Mamdoh Sabry

Khaled Hussein Elmeligi
13-06-2016

ABSTRACT

Submitted to:
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[3D Finite Element Study of the Behavior of Stone Columns]

Statement

Scope

Stone columns have been used as an effective technique for

improving the engineering behavior of soft clayey grounds and
loose silt deposits as construction on these soils is considered
a risk due to its low shear strength and high compressibility.
The soil improvement via stone columns are achieved from
accelerating the consolidation of weak soil due to shortened
drainage path, increasing the soil bearing capacity and/or
settlement reduction due to inclusion of stronger granular
material. However, due to the lack of sufficient lateral
confinement for the columns, this technique is not applicable
for the improvement of grounds that consist of very soft soils.
In order to provide lateral confinement and increase the load
bearing capacity of stone columns installed in very soft clay
soils, they are usually encased with suitable geosynthetic
.materials, forming geosynthetic-encased columns (GECs)

SCOPE OF WORK
Calibrate the 3D finite element model using records and
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results from a field load test performed in the Santa Barbara
wastewater plant, California on weak layered soil improved
with stone columns, the project information will be
.presented as described after Mitchell and Huber (1985)
The field conditions and the field load test will be first
described and then the finite element analysis including
geometry, material and installation process modelling will
.be presented
In the previous study for Mitchell and Huber (1985), the
finite element technique was used to perform parametric
numerical studies for comparison with the measured field
.data
In the present study, the same geometric model and soil
properties will be used but with using the hardening-soil
model as it is a hyperbolic model, based on the theory of
.plasticity and it accounts for soil dilatancy

3D analysis finite element model will be used to check the

difference between it and the 2D analysis in studying the
:effect of
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[3D Finite Element Study of the Behavior of Stone Columns]

Statement

.Spacing between columns

Scope

(a

The arrangement of stone columns (square rectangular

.- staggered) and the spacing between them
.Soil layers

(b

Stratified soil or soft clay soil only

.Installation process

(c

Study the effect of installation of stone column on the

surrounding soil (Unit Cell) and on the K0 (Coefficient of
earth pressure at rest) by using field data mentioned in
.step 1
.Foundation size

(d

Study the effect of foundation size: On Settlement

improvement (Occurred by Stone Column) using stratified
soil and also using soft clay only. And also study the
effect of installation in that case and changing in stone
column properties like length and diameter... etc. Relation
between settlements of foundations of limited size and
.infinitely wide foundations
Stress concentration factor

(e

Known as the ratio between stress carried by the stone

column and stress carried by the surrounding soil and
.take the symbol (n)
And get typical values of n and relations between (n and
stress level) and also between (n and modulus of
.elasticity for soil and stone column)

:In addition study the effect of

.Consolidation time rate

(a

Study the effect of soils improved with stone columns on

.the rate of consolidation
.Using geosynthetics (geogrid)

(b

Study the effect of varying the encasement length of

different columns of a group of GECs on the overall group
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[3D Finite Element Study of the Behavior of Stone Columns]

Statement

Scope

behavior. These results are compared with those obtained

from a group of fully encased columns, through
comparison of the settlements and lateral deformations
.(bulging) of the columns
Parametric studies are also carried out to investigate the
effects of factors such as stiffness of the geosynthetic
encasement, column diameter, and modulus of elasticity
and friction angle of the column material on the overall
.behavior of the GEC group
Use the 3D model to generate new design charts that will be
.more accurate from the 2D analysis

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