An instrumented trial of vibro ground treatment supporting strip foundations in a variable fill

Full-scale instrumented load tests have been carried out to study the installation and performance of vibro stone columns supporting a strip foundation in a variable fill and the performance of a similar strip foundation on untreated ground. The results from site investigation and laboratory testing are presented, and the vibro design principles—in particular the use of a modification to a standard formula that reflects the radial densification of soil around the stone column—are outlined. The treated foundation performance is compared with predicted behaviour; calculated settlements are in reasonable agreement with measured values, but stress measurements suggest that current design assumptions significantly overestimate the degree of stress concentration on the stone columns. The degree of radial densification of fill around the stone columns varied according to installation technique and soil type. The implications of the trial observations for existing design methods are considered.