ABSTRACT
The permeability and compression modulus of lime/cement columns have a large impact on the rate of consolidation of stabilized soil. Using lime/cement mixture instead of lime will increase the stiffness of the treated soil and cause stress concentration in the columns, while at the same time decreasing the permeability of the columns. The consolidation settlement of the improved ground is predicted by using a numerical model based on Yoshikuni’s equation. In this model it is assumed that both soft soil and lime/cement columns possess material linearity. The consolidation of the stabilized soil due to both the radial and the vertical drainage is examined using finite difference technique. This paper deals with the consolidation settlement of stabilized soil using regularly spaced lime/cement columns. Evaluations are made for different column/soil ratios of permeability and compression modulus. It is shown that the lime/cement columns will act like drains when the compression modulus of the lime/cement column is much higher than that of the untreated soil even if the permeability of lime/cement columns is assumed to be low. The results obtained from this model are compared with those predicted using the finite element program, PLAXIS. The comparison shows good agreement with predicted results.
