Compression/tension load capacity of stone column anchors

Stone column anchors are a newly developed innovative method of resisting vertical tension and compressive loads on very soft ground such as reclaimed land. In the stone column anchor system, the ground slab is connected to an anchored frustum at the base of the column by a steel bar. This enables the stone column anchor to resist tension loads, while the shaft of the stone column and the surrounding soil form a composite foundation to resist compressive loads. This paper examines the vertical compression/tension load-carrying capacity of single stone column anchors tested under repeated loading. The results show that stone column anchors can be used to provide an increased tension and compression ground load-carrying capacity. The system has been implemented on reclaimed land for the construction of a new sewage treatment plant.