ABSTRACT
The geotextile encased column (GEC) foundation system for embankments and dikes on soft soil deposits were introduced more than 25 years ago in Germany and since then several projects have been successfully executed worldwide. A number of calculation methods are available and a design procedure is recommended by EBGEO, and two methods of GEC installation have been extensively tested in practice. This chapter describes the field response of a trial embankment constructed on Geosynthetic Encased Granular Columns (GECs)-stabilized soft foundation, for better understanding of the behavior of the GEC system. The soft soil and encased columns were instrumented to register vertical displacement, horizontal deformation, pore water pressure, vertical stresses, and geotextile hoop strain. A possible explanation is the high degree of mobilization of GECs: higher, then predicted by design assumptions. A measurement program was applied using flexible horizontal inclinometers at the top of GECs to record settlement development and decide when to start installing track on top of the embankment.
