Contribution of geosynthetic to the shear strength of geosynthetic encased stone columns

This paper presents a numerical study to evaluate the contribution of geosynthetic to the shear strength of geosynthetic encased stone column (GESC) under direct shear loading conditions. The backfill soil was characterised using the linearly elastic–plastic Mohr–Coulomb model. The geosynthetic encasement was simulated using linearly elastic liner elements. The interaction between the geosynthetic encasement and soils on both sides was modelled through two interfaces. The three-dimensional numerical model was validated using experimental data from direct shear tests of GESC models. The shear stress–strain response and the development of longitudinal and circumferential strains of GESC during the shear process were first discussed, and then a parametric study was conducted to investigate the effects of various design parameters on the shear strength of GESC and the contribution of geosynthetic. Results indicate that the shear resistance provided by the geosynthetic encasement develops slowly, which depends on the mobilisation of tensile strains. At the failure condition, the longitudinal strains are larger than the circumferential strains, which indicates that the longitudinal tensile rupture is more critical for GESC under shear loading. The vertical stress, geosynthetic encasement stiffness and stone column diameter and spacing have the most important influences on the shear strength contribution of geosynthetic encasement.