ABSTRACT
This paper considers the observed effects of both single and multiple stone column installation in soft clay and demonstrates that successful ground improvement can be achieved with this technique. A detailed explanation of the various Vibro Replacement and Compaction techniques available is provided by Sonderman & Wehr (2004) and is not repeated here. This paper concentrates on stone columns installed using the dry bottom feed method, which is the most widely used technique in the UK for routine projects on soft clay sites, often preferred nowadays to the wet method. A significant advantage of the dry bottom feed method over the wet method is that a supply of water flush is not required with the attendant requirement of handling and disposal of the wet spoil. Numerous case studies illustrating the use of the dry bottom feed method for a wide range of projects have been published, for example, Cooper & Rose (1999), Wehr (2006), McNeill (2007), Castro (2007) and Egan (2008).
