Determination of Effective Penetration Depth of Stone Column in Earth Slope using Numerical and Experimental method

Stabilization of earth is one of the main issues in the geotechnical engineering. A common method for reinforcing earth slopes is using stone columns. In all earth slopes, the primary way for stabilization is the excavation in slope crest and/or filling slope toes, if this action would not increase safety factor enough, other procedures should applied. Three common styles of stabilization methods are; vertical reinforcement (such as stone columns), horizontal reinforcement (like geotextile layers), oblique reinforcement (such as nailing). Using numerical and analytical approaches in reinforced slope stability by stone column is the common method which done by many researchers. Earth slope stability threaten by various factors such as earthquake forces, water table changes, filling upstream and cutting downstream of slope, which increase active forces and finally cause slope instability. When we are suspicious about stability of earth slopes, immediate actions and preventative steps should use for suppression of instability occurrence. The purpose of this research is experimentally and numerically investigates stone column behavior and penetration depth in stiff layer in two-layered sandy slope. In this article sandy slope constructed and the model saturated by raining technique and then loading process carried out. With regard to the processes mentioned above, the penetration depth in stiffer layer gained which is the innovation of this paper. The acquired results confirmed by three-dimensional finite difference method (FLAC 3D). The results of experimental modeling and numerical analysis also indicate that presence of stone column in middle of two-layered sandy slope has a great impact on stability of reinforced slope.