Ground heave induced by installing stone columns in clay soils

Abstract

Measurements of ground heave induced by installing stone columns in soft clay are presented in this paper. These measurements are likely to provide guidance to practitioners concerned about the possible impact of column construction on adjacent structures and services. Heaved volume, variation in heave with radius and the radial extent of heave were found to follow experience of driven piles. Simplified finite-element analyses have also been performed which indicate that the thin stiff crust typical of soft clay profiles appears to have little influence on heave, whereas soil stiffness variation with depth and column length may be influential.