Improvement of weak base soils under low-rise buildings, storage tanks, bridge piers, and also the treatment of soft foundations of factories and embankments can be achieved by using stone columns. This technique represents an economical method for the improvement of soft and compressible soils. Moreover, because of their environmental compatibility, low cost, and ease of implementation, they have been used for the improvement of weak soils around the world. This paper has investigated the effects of the dimensions, length and main related parameters on the strain–stress behavior of encased and unreinforced (uncased) stone columns. Settlement assessment, the effects of bulging on efficiency, and also geogrid-capped stone columns have been studied. The experimental results have been compared using parametric finite element modeling software. These results showed that short stone columns, even under small stresses, punched into soft soil. In that case, stress concentration occurred along the columns and they punched into the soft soil instead of resisting against wedge rupture formation below the overlying structure. Stone columns at least doubled the bearing capacity of the soft soils and decreased the differential and total settlements if designed according to appropriate conditions, and even if short in length.

可以通过使用石柱来改善低层建筑，储罐，桥墩下的软弱基层土壤，以及处理工厂和路堤的软基。该技术代表了一种改良软质可压缩土壤的经济方法。而且，由于它们的环境相容性，低成本和易于实施，它们已被用于全世界弱土壤的改良。本文研究了尺寸，长度和主要相关参数对包裹式和非加固式（无套管）石柱的应变-应力行为的影响。研究了沉降评估，膨胀对效率的影响以及土工格栅覆盖的石柱。使用参数化有限元建模软件对实验结果进行了比较。这些结果表明，即使在很小的应力下，短石柱也可以打入柔软的土壤中。在那种情况下，应力集中沿着柱子发生，并且它们冲入软土中而不是抵抗上覆结构下方的楔形破裂形成。如果按照适当的条件设计，即使长度很短，石柱也至少可以使软土的承载力翻倍，并且可以减少差异沉降和总沉降。