A STUDY ON STABILITY OF STONE COLUMN IN SILTY SAND

Abstract

Heavy structures such as high rise buildings, Dams, oil storage tanks etc demand soil of good bearing capacity for their foundation. Due to lack of availability of good soil, there is a need of improve the soil for a good foundation. Several techniques are available for stabilizing or improving the soil. In recent years it has been proved that installation of stone column is acceptable method to improve the soil. Installation of stone column in soil is cost effective, feasible and environmentally friendly technique. Stone aggregates and Waste materials like crushed concrete can also be used for formation of stone column. Stone columns are also provided with encasing of geosynthesis for increasing the load carrying capacity of stone column. Generally stone columns are provided in group. These are installed in weak soil to enhance the shear resistance of soil and bearing capacity and acts as reinforcement to weak soil. Stone columns also reduce the liquefaction potential of soil and decrease the compressibility of fine grained and loose soils. The main aim of this project is to study the effect of the various parameters such as diameter of stone column, length of stone column, number of stone columns, spacing of stone column and encasement of stone column with geotextile on load bearing capacity of stone column. Load test was carried out to study the effects of above parameters. Increase in diameter of stone column leads to enhance load carrying capacity of stone column. If length of floating column is increased then there is an increase in load carrying capacity of stone column. Encasement of stone column also improves load carrying capacity.