ABSTRACT
The Construction of a high approach embankment (6.5 to 10.25m high) on soft soil was facilitated by the installation of stone columns. The soft soil consisted of highly plastic clay and silt with an undrained shear strength as low as 4 kPa. The thickness of the soft soil ranged from 2.5 to 8.5m. The stone columns were installed through the soft soil by vibro replacement techniques. The stone columns were anchored about 0.5m into the underlying dense to very dense sand, sandstone or mudstone. The quality of the constructed stone columns was evaluated by insitu dynamic penetration tests. The overall performance of the treated soil under – the embankment load was evaluated using insitu instrumentation such as settlement plates.
