Stone Columns/Granular Piles for Improving Liquefiable Sites: Case studies

Abstract

Liquefaction is considered as a major hazard among different seismic risks. Ground improvement methods are commonly adopted to improve the liquefiable sites. The paper presents various aspects of liquefaction mitigation strategies to be implemented for liquefaction susceptible sites with focus on granular inclusions. A short discussion on liquefaction susceptible soils and its evaluation followed by outlines of the ground engineering applications is presented herein. Mechanisms that function at sites treated with stone columns/granular piles for liquefaction mitigation are discussed. Design aspects of granular piles for liquefaction mitigation are outlined. Few case studies, wherein stone columns have been adopted for improving the liquefiable sites, are presented. The paper concludes and highlights the effectiveness of granular inclusions in improving the liquefiable sites through various mechanisms.