Analysis of stone column reinforced foundation using finite element method

Abstract

This study performed the finite element analysis of stone column reinforced foundation and matching scheme for conversion of axisymmetric stone column unit cell into equivalent plane strain.

The parameter matching scheme consisting of stiffness and permeability matching procedures is reported. The stiffness matching is based on composite stiffness and area replacement ratio while permeability matching is based on equality of rate of consolidation.

The proposed conversion scheme is tested for linear elastic and non-linear soil models. The results from different unit cell models showed good agreement. The full scale analysis incorporating the proposed conversion scheme was also carried out and good agreement was found between the FEM analysis and the field measurements.

The analyses showed that the proposed matching scheme for conversion of axisymmetric stone column model into equivalent plane strain model gives good agreement for stone column works.