Numerical modeling of Preloading by drainage and Stone Culomn Installation Approach

There are many different methods to modify the mechanical properties of saturated clayey soils. It may be chosen depending of location and function of the structure. among those methods, preloading in presence of vertical drains and installation of stone columns are similar together and it is the cause of comparison. In this thesis, each mechanism of modification of soil was studied lonely and then the results of every method were compared with all together. Subsequently the mentioned approaches were graded technicaly. For this reason, a two dimentional finite element software was used to make the models. It should be necessary to forcast the results of choosing one approach, because there is no proper procedure available for engineers to choose one of these method as the first index, and also the long time that must be spent for in situ consolidation.the results show that the finite element program has the ability of simulating the consolidation phenomena in saturated clayey soils and declare that installation of stone columns is better than preloading by installation of vertical drains. Of course, there are many parameters influences the selection of superiority.