Performance of Footing on Clayey Soil with Encased Stone Columns and Geocell Mattress

In this paper, results of experimental studies carried out on soft clayey soil provided with stone column, encased stone column and geocell mattress have been presented. The parameters varied were provision of encasement to the stone columns, length of encased stone columns, and height of Geocell mattress. During experimental investigation, it was observed that provision of stone columns improves the bearing capacity of clayey soil. Provision of encasement to the stone columns for the height equal to twice the diameter, further improves the performance of stone columns. Geocell mattress also improves the performance of soft clay bed. Bearing capacity increases with increase in height of Geocell mattress and bearing capacity ratio up to three may be achieved with height equal to twice the width of footing. Further, optimum height of Geocell mattress is found to be equal to width of footing. It was also observed that same improvement in bearing capacity may be achieved by providing encased stone columns, along with Geocell mattress of height equal to the optimum height.