Stone Column (IS:15284)

By :
Saravanan Panneervel 3606

SCHOOL OF BUILDING SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

CEPT UNIVERSITY
 There are diferrent techniques for application of
vibroflotation :
 Vibro–compaction

 Stone columns

 Vibro-replacement
 Puprose: Stone columns are installed to reinforce
cohesive soils and to densify granular soils in
order to
 Increase bearing capacity
 Decrease total and differential settlement
 Provide vertical drainage pathways to increase the time-
rate of consolidation settlement
 Reduce the potential of liquefaction.
 Types Of Stone Column
 Stone columns are categorized on the basis of
method of construction :
 Dry Top feed system

 Dry Bottom feed system

 Wet Top feed system

Method of Construction
 Holes are bored as per design by help of auger or vibrating unit
as per design and desired diameter
 Depending on type of existing soil
suitable method is adopted .

Vibroflot (vibrating unit)

Length = 2 – 3 m
Diameter = 0.3 – 0.5 m
Mass = 2 tonnes

(lowered into the ground and

vibrated)
 Dry Top Feed Method
 The vibratory probe is either fully or partially removed from the
hole depending on the ground conditions and stone is dumped
into the hole.
 The stone is placed in 0.6m to 1m lifts, and the probe is re-
inserted following placement of each lift to compact the stoneand
force the stone into the surrounding formation.
 Loaders with side-dumping buckets are preferred as
 The probe is held in place once it has penetrated the previous lift
of stone until the specified resistance criteria is met.
Dry Top Feed Method Sequence
Dry Bottom Feed Method
 In settings where the hole collapses or partially collapses when
the vibratory probe is retracted, it is not possible to construct
high quality, continuous, stone columns using the dry top-feed
method.
 The bottom-feed method incorporates a tremie pipe that is
mounted to the side of the probe to allow stone to be introduced
at the bottom of the hole without fully retracting the probe.
Dry Bottom Feed Method sequence
Wet Top Feed Method
 The wet top-feed method of stone column installation involves
jetting water as the probe penetrates to full depth, reducing the
water flow, and placing the stone .
 The stone column is constructed using techniques similar to the
dry top-feed method, except that a flow water is maintained in the
hole during stone placement.
 The wet top-feed method is employed in weak, unstable soils to
maintain a stable hole, to increase the diameter of the stone
columns, and to remove fine materials (clay, silt, and organic
particles) from the hole.
Water

Probe
Design (as per case study)

Plan
Zig Zag
Arrangement

Section
 1m

Stone
Column

 Zig zag arrangement is provided to cover more area for

strengthening
 The screenshot software
plaxis show showing
possible slope failure
without stone columns.
 After slope stabilisation
with stone columns
Thank You
 References:
 “Stone Columns for Industrial Fills” - By Martin G. Taube, P.E., P.G. and
John R. Herridge ,Nicholson Construction Company, Cuddy, Pennsylvania
 “COMPACTION “– By N. Sivakugan
 http://www.vibroflotation.com/Vibro/vibroflotation_fr.nsf/site/Stone-
Columns.Dry-Stone-Columns
 http://www.haywardbaker.com
 Project Training Data