Behavior analysis of stone columns based on finite elements

Industrialization and population increases are shifting the settlements towards the parcels with poor round conditions. As a result, soil improvement methods are used to build safe structures in poor soil conditions. Stone columns, which are the method of soil improvement used in this study, were widelyused in France in the 1830s, in Europe after 1950 and in America after 1972. In our country, for the last 10 years, it has been used primarily for increasing the carrying capacity and reducing the settlements. As in this study, it was used to reduce the liquefaction risk and despite the liquefaction problem occurin in Sakarya region in 1999 earthquake. Stone columns were modeled in Plaxis 2D proram based on finite elements and analyzed. Total and horizontal displacement amounts for the parcel floor where stone columns were applied were examined. In order to see the analysis result graphs, the sitting time curve is drawn for one of the nodes on the model; the natural state and the improved state in the dield were compared at the determined reference point. Displacements were observed by comparing the ground before and after the improvement and it was observed that the displacements decreased after the improvement.