Statistical Evaluation of the Load-Settlement Response of a Multicolumn Composite Foundation
Publication: International Journal of Geomechanics
Volume 18, Issue 4
Abstract
This study examined a composite foundation that was improved by the joint usage of two types of columns: soil-cement and stone columns. The composite foundation that consists of soil-cement columns, stone columns, and natural soils is herein referred to as a multicolumn composite foundation (MCF). Explicit expressions of the equivalent modulus of the MCF under elastic and/or plastic conditions were considered. The spatial variability in the material properties of natural soils and soil-cement columns was taken into account during the calculation of the equivalent moduli. Through considerations of variability, the MCF settlement can be predicted in a statistical manner, thus enabling a reliability-based design for the composite foundation under the serviceability limit state. Finally, the reliability-based design methodology was shown to achieve a desirable balance between safety and economic considerations when designing the area replacement ratios of both types of columns in a MCF.
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Acknowledgments
This research was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (Grant 2016YFC0800208), Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) (Grant 51278216), and Key Research and Development Science and Technology Cooperation Programme of Hainan Province, P. R. China (Grant ZDYF2016226).
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International Journal of Geomechanics
Volume 18 • Issue 4 • April 2018
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© 2018 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Nov 2, 2016
Accepted: Oct 30, 2017
Published online: Feb 9, 2018
Published in print: Apr 1, 2018
Discussion open until: Jul 9, 2018
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