The results obtained from a controlled field trial of strip foundations on a heterogeneous fill reinforced with stone columns are presented. Comparison is made with the performance of an identical foundation on the virgin fill and with results from numerical models. Comprehensive site investigation data are given, together with measured settlements, bearing pressures, and bending strains. It is concluded that the stone columns improved the performance of the strip foundation, although measured stress ratios were lower than computed values. Bending moments, deduced from the measured strains, suggest that hogging moments are unlikely to occur for a strip foundation on stone columns with a thickness of at least 400mm.
Professor L.A. Wood, D. Johnson, K.S. Watts and A. Saadi