Three Dimensional Numerical Modelling of Stone Column to Mitigate Liquefaction Potential of Sands

Document Type : Research Note

Authors

1 Science and Technology University, Tehran,

2 Science and Technology University, Tehran

Abstract

Liquefaction is one of the most essential causes of failure of transportation infrastructures, especially the road and railroad based on saturated fine sand substrates under seismic conditions. Meanwhile, applying stone columns in a group form is considered as a method to control this phenomenon. To do so, Model No (1) of VELACS project, including NEVADA sand with relative density of %40, was first evaluated numerically using FLAC3D, in which finite difference and sufficiency of Finn constitutive model in liquefaction simulation was shown. Then, sensitivity analysis was performed to examine its radius and depth of influence on reducing excess pore water pressure by imposing a stone column in the center of the model and changing its diameter. In the final step, sensitivity analysis was performed on their efficiency to control liquefaction by simulating the group stone column with square layout and changing diameter of columns and their center-to-center distance. The results of numerical analyses show that the performance of the single stone column increases in reducing excess pore water pressure by increasing depth. Generally, it can be stated that at the depth of 1.25 m and 2.5 m the effective area of the column is 3 and 4 times bigger than the stone column diameter. Columns distance proportion to stone columns diameter (s/d= 2, 3, 4, 5) was evaluated for the group stage. Moreover, the single manner in the group forms more effective than a single column. The group performance of columns appeared to be better than the singular ones.

Keywords

References

  1. Rayamajhi, D., Nguyen, T.V., Ashford, S.A., Boulanger, R.W., Lu, J., Elgamal, A., and Shao, L. (2012) Effect of discrete columns on shear stress distribution in liquefiable soil. Proc., Geo-Congress 2012: State of the Ar t and Practice in Geotechnical Engineering, ASCE, Reston, VA, 1908-1917.
  2. Arulanandan, K. and Scott, R.F. (1993) Verification of numerical procedures for the analysis of soil liquefaction problems. Proceeding of the International Conference on the Verification of Numerical Procedures for the Analysis of Soil Liquefaction Problems, held at the University of California, Balkema Press, Rotterdam.
  3. Mitchell, J.K. and Wentz, F.J. (1991) Performance of Improved ground during the Loma Prieta Earthquake.University of California, Berkeley, UCB/EERC Report 91/12, 26-37.
  4. Adalier, K., Elgamal, A., Meneses, J., and Baez, I.J. (2003) Stone columns as liquefaction counter measure in non-plastic silty soils. Journal of Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering, 23(7), 571-584.
  5. Brennan, A.J. and Madabhushi, S.P.G. (2002) Effectiveness of vertical drains in mitigation of liquefaction. Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering, 22(9-12), 1059-65.
  6. Brennan, A.J. and Madabhushi, S.P.G. (2006) Liquefaction remediation by vertical drains with varying penetration depths. Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering, 26(5), 469-475.
  7. Olgun, C.G. and Martin, J.R. (2008) Numerical modelling of the seismic response of Columnar reinforced ground. Proc., Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering and Soil Dynamics IV, ASCE, Reston, VA.
  8. Bouckovalas, G.D., Papadimitriou, A.G., Kondis, A., and Bakas, G.J. (2006) Equivalent-uniform soil model for the seismic response analysis of sites improved with inclusions. Proc., 6th European Conference on Numerical Methods in Geotechnical Engineering, Taylor & Francis, London, 801-807.
  9. Papadimitriou, A.G., Bouckovalas, G.D., Vytiniotis, A.C., and Bakas, G.J. (2006) Equivalence between 2D and 3D numerical simulations of the seismic response of improved sites. Proc. 6th European Conference on Numer ical Methods in Geotechnical Engineering, Taylor & Francis, London, 809-815.
  10. Asgari, A., Oliaei, M., Bagheri, M. (2013) Numerical simulation of improvement of a liquefiable soil layer using stone column and pilepinning techniques. Journal of Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering, (51), 77-96.
  11. Brennan, A. and Papadimitriuo, A. (2007) Numerical Investigation of Liquefaction Mitigation Using Gravel Drains. Proc. 14th Intl. Conf. Earthquake Engineering, 15-48.
  12. Arulmoli, K., Muraleetharan, K.K., Hossain, M.M., and Fruth, L.S. (1992) VELACS: Verification of liquefaction analysis of centrifuge studies, laboratory testing program, soil data report. Earth Technology Corporation, 51-58.
  13. FLAC3D Version 3.0. Online Manual Table of Contents, Itasca 2005.
  14. Finn, W.D.L., Lee, K.W., and Martin, G.R. (1997) An effective stress model for liquefaction. Journal of Geotechnical Engineering Division, ASCE, 103, 517-531.
  15. Byrne, P. (1991) A cyclic shear-volume coupling and pore-pressure model for sand. In Proc.: Second International Conference on Recent Advances in Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering and Soil Dynamics, Paper No. 1.24, 47-55.
  16. Baez, J.I. and Martin, G.R. (1993) Advances in the design of Vibro systems for the improvement of liquefaction resistance. Proc. Symposium on Ground Improvement, Vancouver Geotechnical Society, Vancouver, B.C., 62-70
  17. FHWA (1983) Design and Construction of Stone Column. I, Report No. FHWA/RD-83/026.
  18. Baez, J.I. (1995) A Design Model for the Reduction of Soil Liquefaction by Vibro-Stone Columns . Ph.D. Dissertation, USC, Los Angeles, CA. 207, 24-31.
  19. Schaefer, V.R., Abramson, L.W., Drumheller, J.C., Hussin, J.D., and Sharp, K.D. (1997) Ground Improvement Ground Reinforcement Ground Treatment: Developments 1987-1997. Geotechnical Special Publication No. 69, ASCE, Logan, Utah, ISBN: 0784402604.
  20. Bowles, J.E. (1996) Foundation Analysis and Design. McGraw-Hill, 5th Edition.
Journal of Seismology and Earthquake Engineering
Volume 17, Issue 2 - Serial Number 2
Summer 2015
Pages 127-140

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics