Consolidation Behaviour of Stone Column-Improved Soft Soil under Different Applied Stress Conditions

In the present study, the consolidation behaviour of the stone column-improved soft clay under different applied stress conditions is investigated through a series of laboratory model tests. Tests are conducted in a cylindrical acrylic tank of diameter 240 mm and 390 mm. The stone columns with diameter 90 mm are installed at the centre of the tanks in a 630 mm-thick clay bed. The tests are conducted under varying applied stress conditions of 50, 75, 100, 150, and 250 kPa. After the consolidation period, column samples are collected to quantify the bulging using X-ray micro-computed tomography (CT), a non-destructive technique. It is observed that the required time to achieve the maximum settlement is increased by almost 30% when applied stress level is more than 150 kPa as compared to the case when stress level is below 100 kPa.