Investigation of the stone column design parameters

In this study, the effect of some design parameters for stone columns have been investigated using analytical and numerical methods. The numerical analyses have been performed by using PLAXIS computer software based on finite element method. The effect of some parameters such as diameter, length, friction angle, stiffness modulus of stone columns, distance between the columns, undrained shear strength and stiffness modulus of clays around the columns have been investigated in the analyses. An application of group stone columns on the field has been also investigated in the thesis. The group of stone columns have been constructed and instrumented with field monitoring system within a TUBITAK project between 2012-2013. Analytical, 2D and 3D numerical analyses in PLAXIS have been carried out using the project data. The results of numerical and analytical analyses have been compared with the field measurements to investigate accuracy and reliability of the numerical and analytical methods.