Performance Evaluation of Cement-Soil Columns in High-Rise Foundation Stabilization

Introduction

In recent decades, construction and infrastructure development in low-lying and coastal regions with soft clay soils have increased significantly. These soils are characterized by low strength and high compressibility, presenting major challenges for foundation design. To address these issues, various ground improvement techniques have been implemented to increase bearing capacity and provide construction feasibility.

Among these techniques, cement-soil columns, also known as deep soil mixing (DSM) piles, offer a cost-effective alternative to rigid inclusions. Despite decades of application in countries like Sweden and Japan, the performance of these columns under service load conditions and ultimate limit states still requires further investigation.

Laboratory and Field Studies

Laboratory Testing:

  • Treated soil samples with cement contents between 150–300 kg/m³ were examined.

  • The uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) of the samples was calculated based on standardized procedures.

Field Testing:

  • 20 in-situ cement-soil columns with a cement content of approximately 280 kg/m³ were tested.

  • The UCS values ranged between 4.5–6 MPa, indicating strong compressive behavior.

Load Testing

A scaled full-scale load test was conducted on:

  • Two single piles

  • One four-pile group
    (Each column: 800 mm diameter, 12 m length)

Results:

Test Type Bearing Capacity Settlement
Single Column 1200 kN 6.93 mm
Group of Four Piles 3200 kN 5.03 mm

These results demonstrate that group pile arrangements significantly improve settlement performance under higher loads.

Conclusion

Cement-soil columns are a viable, economical, and efficient alternative for foundation stabilization in high-rise buildings constructed on soft ground. This method not only reduces construction costs and duration but also supports sustainable geotechnical solutions.

شکل 1: تصویر شماتیک هندسه ازمایشات بر روی شمع های تک و گروهی

Figure 1:

Schematic diagram showing the geometry of single and grouped pile load tests.

شکل 2 : تصویر نتایج ازمایشات SPT و CPTu بر روی خاک موجود در سایت

Figure 2:

SPT and CPTu test results from the project site soil investigation.