ASSESSMENT OF THE LOAD CAPACITY OF GEOTEXTILE ENCASED COLUMNS IN SOFT SOILS
Reinforcement geotextile, settlement, backfill, soft soil, pore pressure, stress distribution.
The benefit of using Geotextile Encased Columns or “GECs” that function as (almost rigid) piles in low-strength soils has proven to be an efficient method to minimize load capacity and settling problems. In this research, the performance of a group of GEC columns is studied through a program of load tests, developed in the laboratory, using large-scale specimens. Therefore, the behavior of the GEC was evaluated, influenced by the mechanical behavior of the reinforcement material and the presence of neighboring columns. So far, four (4) load tests have been carried out on sets of GEC columns, with variations in the value of the radial stiffness module of the prototype. The performances of each of the tests were evaluated in terms of settlements, the behavior of pore pressures, variation of undrained strength of soft soil, deformation of GEC, and stress distribution. The partial results show that with the increase of the reinforcement strength, the load capacity of the GEC column increases. In addition, the stress concentration ratio of the columns also increases. It was found that the bulging effect predominates up to an approximate depth of 2.7 times the diameter of the GEC column. The results found indicated that the maximum deformation occurs at an approximate depth of 1.5 of the diameter of the GEC column. When the GEC columns were recovered, it was found that the specimen is affected by processes of bulging at the top and bending at the bottom.