STUDY ON MODELLED GRANULAR COLUMN OF VARIOUS DIAMETERS IN SOILS

Abstract

Continuous usage with time soil has been degrading. The actions of environment and urbanisation were devastating at places where soil lost its strength and resistance to lateral deformation, so it becomes very important to restore the properties stated above in order to carry on construction. The project presented here aims to study the variation of load carrying capacity and shear parameters of soil after introducing granular columns of varying diameter. Studies show that the granular columns derive the strength from the soil confining them. The granular columns also help in easy drainage, reduction in pore pressure. The initial portion of the study deals with theoretical analysis and detailing regarding the brief description of granular columns and studies conducted to learn the effect of granular column on soils when reinforced with them. A deep analysis was conducted on the materials adopted for the study. A series of CBR and Direct Shear Test were performed after the installation of granular columns by varying the diameter in the soil where it was found that there was improvement in load carrying capacity and shear strength parameters of the soil. The study also presents swelling behaviour of soil against time. The improvement has been presented graphically in later section of the thesis. Also it was established that granular columns can also be used to rectify the swelling behaviour of expansive soil and they are suitable means of ground improvement too.