The Use of Sand Columns in the Reinforcement of Weak Layers in Road Engineering

Ayyad, Sami Mohammed; Ahmad, Omar Asad · 2021 · Crossref

DOI: 10.24425/ace.2021.136487

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Summary

This paper investigates the efficacy of using sand-filled piles (columns) to reinforce weak soil layers in road engineering, specifically aiming to reduce deformation and increase the vehicle-carrying capacity of road bases. The research is motivated by the high costs and logistical difficulties associated with removing weak, water-saturated soils during road reconstruction or maintenance. The authors propose that inserting vertical sand-filled piles can improve soil strength and rigidity while facilitating water expulsion, thereby avoiding the need for complete soil removal. The study employed a laboratory experimental design using sponge samples to simulate weak soil conditions. Two series of experiments were conducted: Experiment A tested sponge samples without holes (control), while Experiment B tested identical samples with holes filled with fine sand (<1mm diameter) to simulate sand columns. The samples were subjected to loads of 5 kg, 10 kg, and 15 kg. The number of sand-filled holes varied from four to twelve, corresponding to total drilled areas ranging from 7.8% to 23.4% of the sample area. The researchers measured device readings to calculate stress, relative deformation, and the deformation module ($E_p$). The results demonstrated that sand-filled piles significantly reduce deformation compared to untreated samples. The relationship between the area of sand-filled piles and the reduction in deformation was found to be non-linear. Specifically, increasing the pile area from 7.8% to 11.7% resulted in a relative deformation reduction ranging from 14% to 45.5%. The maximum reduction in deformation, reaching 92.4%, occurred when the area of sand-filled piles exceeded 19.5%. Additionally, the deformation module increased substantially with the addition of piles; for instance, increasing the pile area from 7.8% to 19.4% changed the deformation module by up to 100%. The magnitude of this improvement was also load-dependent. Under a 5 kg load, increasing the number of piles changed the deformation module by up to 1217%, whereas under 10–15 kg loads, the change ranged from 380% to 470%. The authors conclude that sand-filled piles are an effective, low-cost method for reinforcing weak road foundations. The technique offers a practical alternative to traditional soil removal, particularly in areas with abundant sea sand. The study highlights that while the relationship between pile area and deformation reduction is non-linear, it can be optimized by adjusting the total area of the piles. An increment of 4% in the total area of sand-filled piles was found to reduce relative deformation by 9% to 14% and approximately double the deformation module, suggesting that strategic placement of sand columns can significantly enhance road stability and durability.

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