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Modelling Stone Columns Using Rocscience Settle 3D

Preprint · April 2018

DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.35850.16323

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 Modelling Stone Columns Using Rocscience Settle 3D

By Berk Demir

-Introduction-

Highway and railroad embankments may experience excessive amount of consolidation settlement
due to clayey soils. Rocscience Settle 3D can calculate these settlements with its time-dependent
calculation module.

Usually, settlement criteria for highway and railroad embankments are defined as “settlement after
certain amount of time.” This time depends on the construction of the superstructure, i.e. pavement
or rails. In some cases, consolidation (and secondary consolidation) settlements may be higher than
limits. To speed up the consolidations, wick drains may be used.

-Settle 3D Wick Drain Model-

Rocscience Settle 3D can model wick drains using formulation described by Baron (1948). This
formulation takes radial drainage of the drains into account using the similar principles for vertical time
dependent consolidation described by Terzaghi (1948).
−8𝑇𝑟
𝑢𝑒 = 𝑢𝑒0 ∙ exp ( )
𝜇
𝑐ℎ ∙𝑡
Where 𝑇𝑟 = 𝐷𝑒2
, ch is the horizontal consolidation coefficient, μ (or F(ND)) is the function of drain
geometry, t is time and De is equivalent diameter of unit cell considered. Details of this theory can be
found in Settle 3D Theory Manual.

In some cases, granular stone columns may be more feasible than wick drains due to their shear
strength and high radius of influence. In this case, modelling stone columns in Settle 3D is still possible.
To do this, wick drain module can be used with some modification in soil parameters.

-Example Model-

To demonstrate this, a hypothetical model with 10m deep soft clay will be modelled under 10m, 1H:1V
embankment with unit weight of 21 kN/m3 using Settle 3D’s embankment type load. Soil parameters
used in the tutorial is given below.

Assuming groundwater level is at ground surface, all soils will undergo consolidation. Using Boussinesq
model, calculated total settlement in Settle 3D is 53.5cm. Assuming 3 years preloading phase before
construction of superstructure, calculated settlements before superstructure is 25.3cm. Thus, 28.2cm
settlement will be affecting superstructure.

Using a query point, time vs. total settlement can be graphed. As can be seen in the graph below,
settlements will be continuing for almost 40 years. 3D view of the settlements can also be seen in the
figure given below.
Excess pore water pressures or average degree of consolidation vs. depth can be seen in query points
to see degree of consolidation in each stage.
Using conventional consolidation analysis, similar settlements can be obtained. Small difference is due
to simplified 2:1 load distribution used in the hand calculations.

Total Settlement vs. Depth

Total Settlement (cm)
0.00 cm 10.00 cm 20.00 cm 30.00 cm 40.00 cm 50.00 cm 60.00 cm
0
1
2
3
Depth (m)

4
5
6
7
8
9
10

Settle 3D Analysis Conventional Consolidation Analysis

-Stone Column Design Using Settle 3D-

Since calculated settlements are higher than any acceptable limits for highway or railway structures,
consolidation speed should be increased using inclusions for drainage. Selected ground improvement
method will be stone columns for this example.

Stone columns, due to granular material used in column construction, have high permeability and
strength. Permeability helps decreasing the consolidation time. Strength of columns help decreasing
the total settlement.

Drainage of stone column is similar to wick drains’. Radial drainage theory by Baron (1948) can be
applied to stone columns as well. Details of stone column design are given in Barksdale & Barcus
(FHWA-RD-83-026, 1983). Due to its similarity with wick drains, Settle 3D’s wick drain model can be
used for stone columns too.

Modelling window in Settle 3D is shown in the figure below. For this example, 10m soft clay is improved
with 2mx2m, Ø80 and L=6m stone columns.
In addition to wick drains, stone columns increase rigidity and decrease total settlement. Since wick
drains do not have significant strength, total settlement is same before and after improvement.
However, stone columns decrease the total settlement by a ratio of 𝜇𝑐 = 𝑆𝑡 /𝑆 where μc is the
settlement reduction ratio (sometimes SSR), St is treated settlement and S is total settlement before
treatment. To calculate settlement reduction ratio, following formula can be used:
1
𝜇𝐶 =
1 + 𝑎𝑠 (𝑛 − 1)
Where n is the stress concentration ratio and as is area replacement ratio. Stress concentration ratio
can be calculated based on the ratio of soil and column modulus. Based on the recommendations of
FHWA (1983), n will be accepted 4 for this example. Area replacement ratio for Ø80cm columns with
2mx2m triangular spacing as shown in the window above can be calculated as below:

𝑑𝑐 2 0.8 2
𝑎𝑠 = 0.907 ( ) = 0.907 ( ) = 0.1451
𝑠 2
Using the calculated value above, settlement reduction ratio can be calculated as:
1
𝜇𝑐 = = 0,70
1 + 0.1451 (4 − 1)
Settlement reduction ratio for Ø80cm stone column with 2mx2m triangular spacing is calculated as
0.70 which means that total settlement before improvement will be reduced by 30% after stone
columns.
To model this effect in Settle 3D, one-dimensional compressibility, mv can be decreased using the same
ratio. Since this example does not consider the immediate settlements, reduction will not be used on
modulus of elasticity. However, if used, modulus of elasticity should be reduced by the same ratio as
mv.

𝑚𝑣 𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑑 = 𝑚𝑣 ∙ 𝜇𝐶 = 0.000275 ∙ 0.70 = 0.0001925 𝑚2 /𝑘𝑁

Using this approach, stone columns can be modelled by considering both rigidity and drainage effects.
If required, densification effects between stone columns can be considered with same approach.

Based on the assumptions presented above, calculated total settlement is reduced to 43.3cm. Due to
drainage effect of stone columns, 40.5cm of total settlement will be completed before 3 years and
remaining 2.8cm settlement will affect superstructure.

Comparison of before and after time vs. settlement is given below.

Time (y)
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
0

10
Total Settlement (cm)

20

30

40

50

60

After Improvement Before Improvement

-Stone Column Design Using Hand Calculations-

To compare the calculated after improvement settlements with hand calculations, Carillo (1942)
theory will be used. This theory combined vertical and radial drainage as below:

𝑈 = 1 − (1 − 𝑈𝑟 )(1 − 𝑈𝑣 )
Average degree of consolidation due to vertical flow can be calculated using the approach suggested
by Terzaghi (1943).

4𝑇𝑣
𝐹𝑜𝑟 𝑈𝑣 = 0 𝑡𝑜 52.6%, 𝑈𝑣 = √
𝜋

𝐹𝑜𝑟 𝑈𝑣 > 52.6%, 𝑈𝑣 = 1 − 0.81 ∙ 10−1.07𝑇𝑣

𝑐𝑣 ∙𝑡
Tv is time factor due to vertical flow and can be calculated as 𝑇𝑣 = 𝐻2
.
Degree of consolidation due to radial flow can be calculated using Barron’s (1948) formula:
−8
𝑈𝑟 = 1 − exp ( 𝑇)
𝐹(𝑁𝐷 ) 𝑟

𝑁𝐷2 3𝑁𝐷2 − 1
𝐹(𝑁𝐷 ) = ln(𝑁𝐷 ) −
𝑁𝐷2 − 1 4𝑁𝐷2

ND is diameter ratio which is de/dc, de is equivalent diameter of unit cell (1.05s for triangular pattern),
𝑐ℎ ∙𝑡
dc is the diameter of the column. Tr is time factor due to radial flow and can be calculated as 𝑇𝑟 = 𝐷𝑒2
.

Currently, no exact solution for floating wick drains or stone columns is given in literature. Some closed
form solutions have been proposed by Ong, Chai and Hino (2012). However, current practice is
considering drainage theory as described above through the body of inclusion. Below the ground
improvement, boundary condition between drainage and soft soil is assumed to be drained. Thus,
drainage path of the soil layer between ground improvement and underlying stiff or drained will be
reduced.

Calculations are presented in detail below for given example. Firstly, for layer between 0-6m will be
considered. This part is improved using Ø80cm – 2mx2m triangular pattern stone columns. Horizontal
permeability is assumed to be equal to vertical permeability.
5.45 ∙ 3
𝑇𝑣 = = 0.45
62
𝑈𝑣 = 1 − 0.81 ∙ 10−1.07∙0.45 = 0.73

𝑑𝑐 2 0.8 2
𝑎𝑠 = 0.907 ( ) = 0.907 ( ) = 0.1451
𝑠 2
1
𝜇𝑐 = = 0.70
1 + 0.1451 (4 − 1)
5.45 ∙ 3
𝑇𝑟 = = 3.69
(1.05 ∙ 2)2
1.05 ∙ 2
𝑁𝐷 = = 2.625
0.8
2.6252 3 ∙ 2.6252 − 1
𝐹(𝑁𝐷 ) = ln(2.625) − = 0.415
2.6252 − 1 4 ∙ 26252
−8 ∙ 3.69
𝑈𝑟 = 1 − exp ( )=1
0.415
𝑈 = 1 − (1 − 0.75)(1 − 1) = 100%
As can be seen in the calculations presented above, settlements are completed within 3 years due to
radial drainage. It should be noted that this design can be improved by wider stone columns, however,
it is important to check slope stability of embankments too. Therefore, spacing of the stone columns
should be decided considering both settlement and slope stability. Details of slope stability analysis
are not presented in this document.

To calculate settlement below the stone columns, classical vertical consolidation theory will be used
with 4m (10m total soft soil depth, 6m stone column depth) drainage path.
 5.45 ∙ 3
𝑇𝑣 = = 1.02
42
𝑈𝑣 = 1 − 0.81 ∙ 10−1.07∙1.02 = 0.935
To calculate the remaining settlement after 3 years, consolidation settlements should be separated by
0-6m and 6-10m. As can be seen in the table below, settlements throughout the ground improvement
is 31.28cm and settlements below the ground improvement is 17.78cm by hand calculations.

Conventional Consolidation Calculation

Foundation
B= 30 L= 300 Load= 210
Dim.
Layer Start End Thickness Load mv Settlement
Layer-1 0 1 1 206 2.75E-04 5.67 cm
Layer-2 1 2 1 199 2.75E-04 5.47 cm

31.28 cm
Layer-3 2 3 1 192 2.75E-04 5.29 cm
Layer-4 3 4 1 186 2.75E-04 5.11 cm
Layer-5 4 5 1 180 2.75E-04 4.95 cm
Layer-6 5 6 1 174 2.75E-04 4.79 cm
Layer-7 6 7 1 169 2.75E-04 4.65 cm

17.78 cm
Layer-8 7 8 1 164 2.75E-04 4.51 cm
Layer-9 8 9 1 159 2.75E-04 4.38 cm
Layer-10 9 10 1 155 2.75E-04 4.25 cm
Total Consolidation 49.06 cm

Thus, remaining settlement can be calculated as:

𝑠3−100 𝑦𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑠 = 𝑠0−6𝑚 ∙ (1 − 𝑈0−6𝑚 ) + 𝑠6−10𝑚 ∙ (1 − 𝑈6−10𝑚 )

𝑠3−100 𝑦𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑠 = 31.28 ∙ (1 − 1) + 17.78 ∙ (1 − 0.935) = 1.15𝑐𝑚

-Comparison-

Remaining settlements calculated by Settle 3D was 2.8cm. By hand calculations, remaining settlement
is calculated as 1.15cm. For layer below the ground improvement, average degree of consolidation in
Settle 3D is 82% while hand calculations resulted in 93.5%. Difference is due to more detailed mesh of
calculation in Settle 3D and more detailed calculations of drainage conditions.

Therefore it can be stated that modelling stone columns in Settle 3D is easier than traditional hand
calculations. 2 calculation steps are required in order to determine the settlement reduction ratio.
Then, this ratio can be applied on mv to reduce the settlement in the improved zone.

One final note: Most of the time, due to high permeability of stone columns and effect of radial
drainage, consolidations in the improved zone will be over very quickly. In this case, instead of
modelling the wick drains, two similar steps can be followed:

• Reduce the mv same way for improved zone.

• Set the drainage condition below the improved zone to “drained.

Therefore, consolidations will be over in a short time as wick drain model. Comparison is presented
below.
 Time (y)
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
0

10

15
Total Settlement (cm)

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

-Results-

• Settle 3D wick drain model can be used to design Stone Columns in an easier way than
traditional hand calculations.
• To design stone columns in Settle 3D, settlement reduction ratio should be calculated and
applied to improved zone with circular wick drains in stone column diameter and spacing.
• Comparisons show that results do not differ significantly between hand calculations and Settle
3D calculations.
• If it is proven that settlements will be over in a given time throughout the improved area,
drainage conditions can be set to drained for improved area with altered mv to model stone
columns without using wick drains.

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