Numerical Modeling of the RAP Construction Process and Its Effects on RAP Behavior
Publication: International Journal of Geomechanics
Volume 15, Issue 5
Abstract
Although rammed aggregate piers (RAPs) have attracted much attention as a cost-beneficial ground improvement technique, their construction process and the other affecting parameters on the behavior of these geotechnical structures during the construction and loading phases have not been properly investigated and only some predictions for downward and radial expansion resulting from the construction process have been proposed to be used in numerical simulations. The goal of this paper is to numerically simulate the RAP construction process to investigate the effect of construction sequences on RAP behavior. Keeping this aim in mind, a hybrid distinct element–finite difference algorithm is developed to simulate the placing and ramming of the RAP’s clean crushed stone layers in detail. Introducing several numerical models, a parametric study was then conducted to compare the behavior of RAPs during the construction process for different pier geometries and soil properties. The results of this research not only help to understand the RAP behavior during the ramming process but can also be used as a guide for predicting the amount of downward and lateral expansion of RAPs after the ramming process.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
References
Chen, J.-F., Han, J., Oztoprak, S., and Yang, X.-M. (2009). “Behavior of single rammed aggregate piers considering installation effects.” Comput. Geotech., 36(7), 1191–1199.
Farrell, T., Fitz Patrick, B., and Kenney, W. (2008). “Uplift testing of rammed aggregate pier® systems.” Proc., Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering and Soil Dynamics IV Congress, D. Zeng, M. T. Manzari, and D. R. Hiltunen, eds., ASCE, Reston, VA, 1–14.
Farrell, T., and Taylor, A. (2004). “Rammed aggregate pier design and construction in California—Performance, constructability, and economics.” Proc., SEAOC 2004 Convention, Structural Engineers Association of California, Sacramento, CA, 147–154.
Fox, N. S. (2004). “Geopier soil reinforcement system—Case histories of high bearing capacity footing support and floor slab support.” Proc., 5th Int. Conf. on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering, S. Prakash, ed., Vol. 4, Univ. of Missouri-Rolla, Rolla, MO, 13–17.
Girsang, C. H., Gutierrez, M. S., and Wissmann, K. J. (2004). “Modeling of the seismic response of the aggregate pier foundation system.” Proc., Geo-Support 2004, ASCE, Reston, VA, 485–496.
Halabian, A. M., Naeemifar, I., and Hashemolhosseini, S. H. (2012a). “Numerical analysis of vertically loaded rammed aggregate piers and pier groups.” Proc. Inst. Civ. Eng., 165(3), 167–181.
Halabian, A. M., Naeemifar, I., and Hashemolhosseini, S. H. (2012b). “Numerical analysis of vertically loaded rammed aggregate piers and pier groups under dynamic loading.” Soil Dyn. Earthquake Eng., 38, 58–71.
Handy, R. L., and White, D. J. (2006a). “Stress zones near displacement piers: I. Plastic and liquefied behavior.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng., 54–62.
Handy, R. L., and White, D. J. (2006b). “Stress zones near displacement piers: II. Radial cracking and wedging.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng., 63–71.
Hoevelkamp, K. K. (2002). “Rammed aggregate pier soil reinforcement: Group load tests and settlement monitoring of large box culvert.” M.Sc. thesis, Iowa State Univ., Ames, IA.
Lawton, E. C., and Fox, N. S. (1994). “Settlement of structures supported on marginal or inadequate soils stiffened with short aggregate piers.” Proc., Vertical and Horizontal Deformations of Foundations and Embankments, Vol. 2, ASCE, Reston, VA, 962–974.
Lawton, E. C., Fox, N. S., and Handy, R. L. (1994). “Control of settlement and uplift of structures using short aggregate piers.” Proc., In-Situ Deep Soil Improvement, Vol. 45, ASCE, Reston, VA, 121–132.
Majchrzak, M., Farrell, T., and Metcalfe, B. (2009). “Innovative soil reinforcement method to control static and seismic settlements.” Proc., GeoFlorida 2009: Contemporary Topics in Ground Modification, Problem Soils, and Geo-Support, M. Iskander, D. F. Laefer, and M. H. Hussein, eds., ASCE, Reston, VA, 313–320.
Majchrzak, M., Lew, M., Sorensen, K., and Farrell, T. (2004). “Settlement of shallow foundations constructed over reinforced soil: Design estimates vs. measurements.” Proc., 5th Int. Conf. on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering, Univ. of Missouri-Rolla, Rolla, MO, 13–17.
Pham, H. (2005). “Support mechanism for rammed aggregate pier.” Ph.D. dissertation, Iowa State Univ., Ames, IA.
Pham, H. T. V., and White, D. J. (2007). “Support mechanisms of rammed aggregate piers. II: Numerical analyses.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng., 1512–1521.
Potts, D. M., and Zdravković, L. (1999). Finite element analysis in geotechnical engineering: Theory, Thomas Telford, London.
Suleiman, M. T., and White, D. J. (2006). “Load transfer in rammed aggregate piers.” Int. J. Geomech., 389–398.
White, D. J., Gaul, A., and Hoevelkamp, K. (2003). “Highway applications for rammed aggregate piers in Iowa soils.” Iowa DOT Project TR-443, CTRE Project 00-60, Final Rep., Dept. of Civil and Construction Engineering, Iowa State Univ., Ames, IA.
White, D. J., Pham, H. T. V., and Hoevelkamp, K. K. (2007). “Support mechanisms of rammed aggregate piers. I: Experimental results.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng., 1503–1511.
White, D. J., Wissmann, K., Barnes, A., and Gaul, A. (2002). “Embankment support: A comparison of stone column and rammed aggregate pier soil reinforcement.” Proc., 55th Canadian Geotechnical Conf., Canadian Geotechnical Society, Richmond, BC, Canada.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
International Journal of Geomechanics
Volume 15 • Issue 5 • October 2015
Copyright
© 2014 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Aug 10, 2013
Accepted: Jun 2, 2014
Published online: Jul 11, 2014
Published in print: Oct 1, 2015
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.