Study of Reinforced Soil Embankment Supported on Stone Column Improved Ground

In the present paper, a parametric study with the help of numerical modeling is carried out to understand the effect of basal reinforcement using uniaxial geogrid on stone column supported embankment. A comparative study was also performed to understand the embankment behavior with and w/o basal reinforcement (BR). The governing factors such as basal reinforcement tensile stiffness, stone column spacing, soil stratum thickness, soil shear strength parameter, and embankment height are considered for analysis. The two-dimensional (2D) plane strain numerical modeling is carried out with the finite element software Plaxis 2D. Stone column modeling with the gravel trench method and homogenizing method is carried out. From the study, it was found that the influence of stresses acting on stone columns and surrounding soil, settlement profile along the embankment base, stability of the embankment, and horizontal soil deformation beneath the embankment toe are affected by basal reinforcement presence.