Performance evaluation of light-weighted cement-stabilized-clay columns for soft ground improvement using the centrifuge model test

The thick soft clay (>20 m) is difficult to be treated by the deep mixing method for financial reasons; accordingly, the light-weighted cement-stabilized soil (LWCS, 1.0 Mg/m3) columns produced by casting are proposed as an alternative. To investigate the performance of the LWCS columns, a centrifuge model test with an acceleration of 100 g was conducted on a composite ground with LWCS columns and traditional deep mixing columns (1.7 Mg/m3). The results indicate that the ground with traditional columns exhibits a significantly larger deformation than that with LWCS columns. The axial force increases and then decreases with respect to the traditional column depth, and decreases with respect to the LWCS column depth. The stress concentration ratio and column efficacy of LWCS columns is significantly lower than that of traditional columns, suggesting that the LWCS columns and soil could share the loading together, thus realizing a better coordination between the column and soil.