Numerical Analysis of Geosynthetic-Encased Sand Columns

This study numerically analyzes the behavior of geosynthetic-encased sand columns. Because volumetric strain of the filled material has a decisive effect on the expansive behavior of the column, numerical functions are developed to formulate the volumetric strain in the sand. An elastic-plastic constitutive model with non-associated flow rule is used to characterize prominent expansive behavior of the mediate to dense sands. The mechanical properties of the materials involved in the reinforced column are extracted from simple experimental tests. Results from the present numerical analysis are compared with experimental results for encapsulated sand columns subjected to triaxial compression. The tested sand columns are made of two different sands, encapsulated by sleeves fabricated from two different geotextiles. The numerical analysis results are also compared with data obtained from a theoretical method reported in the literature.