Encased Columnar Inclusions in Soft Grounds – A Review

Abstract

Even before the evolution of soil mechanics, the research on mitigating the problems induced by soft soils has started. The granular column is one of the promising ground improvement technique widely accepted as a solution to soft soil problems all over the world. Recently the performance of it is improved by encasing with geosynthetic products like geogrid and geotextiles. This paper gives an insight into the technical aspects of encased granular columns by reviewing the advancements that have happened in the published literature. The focus of this paper is more on the problems associated with soft clay deposits, although granular columns can also be employed to mitigate liquefaction in saturated loose sand deposits. Discussions on the key technical aspects associated with encased granular columns and its applicability in the field are provided.