Use of Sustainable Material as Column Filler in Soft Clay Bed Reinforced with Stone Column: Numerical Study

Abstract

Abstract Soil reinforcement is technique to improve the engineering characteristics of soil. For stabilizing the problematic soils (soft clay), a number of strengthening techniques are available, including the employment of thermal techniques, portland cement, lime, fly ash, ground freeing, jet grouting, and prefabricated vertical drains. Similarly, one of the most popular procedures for improving soil is using stone columns, which have been used all over the world to improve structures built on soft clay by increasing their bearing capacity and lowering total and differential settlements. Consolidation is accelerated by the function of stone columns as vertical drains. In this paper, Steel slag, an industrial waste, is used as a column filler material, which can act as a sustainable material and will also address the current environmental concern. Using steel slag for soil stabilization can be an economical and ecologically conscious way to extract solid waste. To explore the various behavioural responses of virgin soft clay beds and clay beds built with stone columns, a numerical analysis was done. Based on the stone column’s deformation criteria and the soft clay bed’s settlement criteria, a comparison between the two was made.