Support Mechanisms of Rammed Aggregate Piers. I: Experimental Results
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Volume 133, Issue 12
Abstract
This paper is the first of a two-part series investigating the mechanical behavior of rammed aggregate pier (RAP) groups supporting isolated rigid footings. The first paper presents the experimental test results from instrumented load tests performed on two different square reinforced concrete footings supported by four diameter RAPs of two different pier lengths—2.8 and . Comparisons are made to load tests performed on three isolated RAPs of the same diameter and lengths. Instrumentation consisted of total stress cells, inclinometers, and tell-tale reference plates. Soil conditions at the test site were evaluated using various in situ testing techniques and consist of relatively uniform soft alluvial clay overlain by a 1-m-thick desiccated layer. Interpretations of the test results focused on load-deformation behaviors of the isolated piers and pier groups, group efficiencies in terms of settlement and bearing capacity, stress concentrations as a function of applied load at the top of the piers, and stress transfer with depth.
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Acknowledgments
This research was sponsored by the Iowa DOT under Contract No. TR-443, Geopier Foundation Company, Inc., and Iowa State University of Science and Technology. The support of these agencies is greatly acknowledged. Aaron Gaul, Muhannad Suleiman, and Brendan FitzPatrick assisted with conducting the load tests. Dr. R. L. Handy and Dr. Kord Wissmann provided helpful review comments. Peterson Contractors, Inc. installed the test piers. The reviewers of this paper provided excellent reviews and very worthwhile suggestions.
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Published In
Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 133 • Issue 12 • December 2007
Pages: 1503 - 1511
Copyright
© 2007 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Dec 13, 2005
Accepted: Jan 6, 2007
Published online: Dec 1, 2007
Published in print: Dec 2007
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