A comparative study for the performance of encased granular columns

This paper describes a three-dimensional (3D) numerical analysis of a test embankment on geotextile-encased columns (GECs), in comparison with two-dimensional (2D) axisymmetric and plane strain analyses. The 3D numerical analysis was performed considering a rectangular strip under the embankment centerline. The 2D analysis was also carried out using axisymmetric unit cell and plane strain approaches. Numerical results indicated that the adopted 3D strip model represented well the measured deformations and pore pressure evolution during embankment construction and post-contraction periods. Unlike the unit cell model, both plane strain and 3D analyses could properly determine the settlement profile along the embankment base as well as the profile of the horizontal soil deformation beneath the embankment toes. The plane strain analysis, however, was not able to compute the geotextile ring force which might be simply calculated using the axisymmetric unit cell approach. The paper also showed that, due to horizontal boundary fixities applied to the embankment borders, the unit cell model clearly underestimated the tension developed in the basal geogrid.