Analytical Solution for the Consolidation Process of a Stone-Column Reinforced Foundation under Partially Drained Boundaries

Abstract

The consolidation process of a stone-column reinforced foundation under partially drained boundaries was investigated on the basis of a newly developed consolidation theory. An analytical solution was created using a separation of variables technique and the theory of an eigenvalue problem. In this paper, a solution from the literature was referenced as a special case of the solution. Computational examples are presented and discussed. In the situation of a sand blanket layer on the top of the foundation, the solution that assumes a completely pervious top boundary tends to overestimate the consolidation speed, and the solution presented in this paper is more suitable for a calculation under this condition. The study on the consolidation process of the foundation under partially drained boundaries shows that the consolidation process is more rapid if the disturbance to the surrounding soil during the installation of the stone column is relatively less pronounced; choosing a stone column with a high oedometric modulus is advantageous for the consolidation of the foundation. Finally, the sensitivity to the effects of the variation of different parameters on the consolidation process was also analyzed.