Deformation Analysis of a Geosynthetic-Encased Stone Column and Surrounding Soil Using Cavity-Expansion Model

Abstract

This article presents an analytical solution to predict the deformation of a geosynthetic-encased stone column (GESC) and the surrounding soil using a cylindrical cavity-expansion model. The cavity-expansion model is used to analyze the relationship between the expansion pressure and the radial displacement. The stress and deformation development are analyzed according to the radial stress and the vertical stress equilibrium. This method has been verified via comparison with field-test data in the literature. Parametric studies were conducted to investigate the influences of applied loading, geosynthetic encasement stiffness, soil stiffness, and encasement length on the mechanical performance of the GESC and the surrounding soil. The results indicate that the radial displacement of the soil decreased sharply and became zero at a relatively large distance from the column. At the radial position of 5 times the radius of the GESC, the radial displacement of soil was almost 0.2 times the column radial displacement.