Sand column stabilized by silica fume embedded in soft soil

Abstract EN

This research aims to study the behavior of the sand columns stabilized with silica fume (as an additive with different percentages) and driven in soft soil bed with un drained shear strength (cu) between 16-21 kPa.

Holesin the shape of columns with diameter 50 mm and length 300 mm have been drilled in a soil bed and backfilled with sand mixed with several proportions of silica fume with 7-days curing.

A rigid circular footing with diameter 64.6 mm was located on each column and loaded axially till failure.

The results analysis of the model tests indicated an encouraging improvement in load carrying capacity of the columns and considerable reduction in the settlement compared to the conventional stone columns.

The bearing improvement ratio and settlement reduction ratio exhibited by the sand columns are 1.18 and 0.71, respectively.

The best possible addition of silica fume content in sand–silica fume columns is 7 % giving bearing improvement ratio and settlement reduction ratio of 1.56 and 0.5 respectively.