Settlement and Stress Analysis of Soil–Cement Column-Reinforced Foundation under an In Situ Stabilized Layer.

Ground improvement using a joint technology combined with in situ shallow stabilization of soft clay and soil–cement column-reinforced foundations is an effective technique for the treatment of soft soil foundations. This paper presents a methodology to study the performances of a new joint composite foundation under embankments with an emphasis on the load transfer in the stabilized layer. The deformations of the columns, the surrounding soil, and the overlying stabilized layer are compatible by applying the stress continuity and volume settlement continuity at the bottom of the stabilized layer. Two assumptions of the stabilized layer were considered: a perfectly rigid situation and a deformable one. The corresponding uniform vertical strain between the columns and the surrounding soils in the case of a rigid stabilized layer and the load transfer in the embankment, a stabilized layer, and a column-reinforced foundation in the case of a deformable stabilized layer were analyzed. The settlement and stress concentration ratios of the column-reinforced foundation were evaluated through a parameter study. To give full play to the bearing function of the columns under working conditions in this paper, a reasonable stabilized depth was assumed to be 1.8–2.5 m. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]