Effect of stone columns on safety factor and stability of slopes using numerical modeling

Different reinforcement methods can be used to improve stability of slopes one of this method is stone columns. Stabilized slopes with stone columns are numerically studied in the current paper. For this purpose, finite element method (FEM) and the limit equilibrium method (LEM) are selected to investigate the effect of different parameters on the safety factor of slopes stabilized with stone columns. PLAXIS software and Slope/w are used for this aim. The assumption model has typically 9 m in height and 4.20 m long at the base with slope inclination of 65 degree. The type of soil is soft clay and the behavior of soil is selected Mohr–Coulomb. A parametric study was undertaken to study the effect of inclination, length on the factor of safety of the stone columns -slopes. The results show that the optimum inclination of the stone column is between 15 to 20 degree and the optimum length achieve 0.6h(Height of slope). The obtained results of this paper were compared to other researchers works.

Keywords:

Factor of safety , Finite element method and limit equilibrium method , Slope stability , Soft clay