Effect of Influencing Parameters on the Failure Mechanism of Sand Compaction Column Treated Cohesionless Deposit

The paper presents the failure mode of sand compaction column (SCC) treated cohesionless deposits. The objective of the study is framed in such a way that it addresses the research gap on lack of information on the type of failure pattern in the SCC treated sand stratum. The numerical model generated using commercially available software was employed for the analysis. A three-column group of 0.6 m diameter (D) SCC was installed up to 20 m depth in a sand stratum of initial relative density (RD) of 30%, with 2D spacing. The failure mode undergone by the footing under compression loading was observed. The paper also investigates the effect of influencing parameters on the failure pattern undergone by the SCC improved sand stratum. It was found that the failure undergone by the footing after load application is found to be a general shear failure similar to that of Terzaghi’s theory for most of the cases considered for the study. It was found that the failure mechanism of the improved sand stratum is predominantly governed by pile spacing and pile diameter than that of the initial relative density of the sand stratum and pile length.