• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.5-15
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• 2014

Target reliability index in the limit state design indicated the safety margin and it is important to determine the partial factor. To determine the target reliability index which is needed in the limit state design, the six design and construction case histories of gravel compaction piles (GCP) were investigated. The limit state functions were defined by bulging failure for the major failure mode of GCP. The reliability analysis were performed using the first order reliability method (FORM) and the reliability index was calculated for each ultimate bearing capacity formulation. The reliability index of GCP tended to be penportional to the safety factor of allowable stress design and average value was ${\beta}$=2.30. Reliability level that was assessed by reliability analysis and target reliability index for existing structure foundations were compared and analyzed. As a result, The GCP was required a relatively low level of safety compared with deep and shallow foundations and the currd t reliability level were similar to the target reliability in the reinforced earth retaining-wall and soil-nailing. Therefore the target reliability index of GCP suggested as ${\beta}_T$=2.33 by various literatures together with the computed reliability level in this study.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.7 no.5
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• pp.57-66
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• 2006

In this study, the centrifuge model tests were carried out to evaluate the stress concentration ratio, the deformation modes of piles and the ground movement in clay deposit improved by SCP and GCP piles with changing the replacement ratio(20%, 40%, 60%) under flexible loading. Based on the results obtained, it was shown that the stresses acting on GCP was larger than those acting on SCP with the same replacement ratio. It was evaluated that the average stress concentration ratio of soft clay ground improved by GCP was slightly larger than that of SCP when the replacement ratio is 40%. Only expansion failure occurred in GCP, whereas SCP showed the expansion and shear failure simultaneously.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.43-51
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• 2013

Recently, engineering problems such as long-term settlement, differential settlement, and the resultant structural damage, have been frequently reported at construction sites. Use of Sand Compaction Piles(SCP) and Granular Compaction Piles(GCP) are good at remedying existing problems, improving bearing capacity and promoting consolidation. However, such compaction piles have the potential for clogging, which would limit their usability. Investigations into the potential for clogging in SCP, GCP, and GCP mixed with sand has not been thoroughly conducted and is the objective of this current study. Large scale direct shear tests were performed on sections of SCP, GCP, and sand mixed GCP to evaluate bearing capacity. Discrete Element Method analyses were conducted with PFC3D and Finite Element Analyses were conducted with MIDAS GTS to propose an algorithm to help reduce clogging in the granular compaction piles. Results from the large scale direct shear test and multiple simulations suggest a 70% gravel and 30% sand mixing ratio to be optimal for bearing capacity and reducing clogging.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.5-15
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• 2011

In this study, centrifuge model tests were performed to investigate stress concentration ratio, stress characteristics of soft clay ground improved by granular compaction piles with changes of piles type, loading condition and area replacement ratio. From the results of rigid loading tests, while vertical stresses acting on clay ground is similar, vertical stresses acting on GCP is larger than those acting on SCP with same replacement ratio. Also, average stress concentration ratio is increased proportionally with increasing the area replacement ratio of GCP and SCP. It was evaluated that average stress concentration ratio of soft clay ground improved by GCP is larger than that of SCP. As a result of flexible loading tests, stress concentration ratio is the highest when replacement ratio of GCP and SCP is 40%. Average stress concentration ratio of soft clay ground improved by GCP is a little more higher than is improved by SCP.

• Journal of the Korean Geosynthetics Society
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.27-37
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• 2016

Although many studies on the Granular Compaction Pile (GCP) have been done by many researchers, the GCP design has not been systematically done due to the absence of the rational design methodology. As the GCP design has been mostly done by engineers' own experiences, some failure cases have been reported to occur. For this reason, it is very difficult to confirm definite causes of the failure and establish the prevention plans for the failure. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the optimal mixing ratio of gravel and sand, the effects of the internal friction angle of the GCP on the stress concentration ratio and the vertical and horizontal settlements. In order to analyze the behavior of the soft ground reinforced with the GCP depending on the different design parameters such as the stress concentration ratio and the internal friction angle, a number of finite element (FE) analyses were performed. From the direct shear test, the optimal mixing ratio of gravel to sand was found to be 70:30. Based on the numerical analyses, as the internal friction angle increased, the stress concentration ratio increased and it converged to a constant value. In addition, the larger the internal friction angle, the smaller the settlements. Consequently, the use of the optimal mixing ratio of gravel and sand can lead to reducing both the lateral flow and the heaving phenomenon.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.65-76
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• 2014

For soil improvement, sand mats or sand compaction piles are often constructed on soft marine clays. In such cases, some amounts of sand and clay are inevitably mixed. Sand or gravel often exists in the weathered soils near the slope surface. This research investigates the effect of mixing sand content on consistency limits and shear strength of clays. Firstly, sand was mixed with kaolinite or bentonite at 0, 9, 17, 23, 29, 33, 50% and then liquid and plastic limits were measured. Both plastic and liquid limits decreased as a sand content increased. The water content of clay-sand mixtures with different sand content increased by 10% or 20% step by step and then their undrained shear strength was measured using a portable vane shear device called Torvane. For all cases, undrained shear strength of clay-sand mixtures decreased rapidly until reaching a certain value. Their state changed from undrained to drained state gradually as the sand content increased, which caused their undrained shear strength to decrease. On the other hand, a series of direct shear tests were also conducted on such clay-sand mixtures to investigate the effect of sand content on cohesion and angle of internal friction. It was found from clay-sand mixtures that their cohesion decreased but angle of internal friction increased as the sand content increased.