STRENGTH CHANGES OF SURROUNDING CLAY DUE TO SOIL-CEMENT COLUMN INSTALLATION

This paper discusses the reduction and subsequent recovery and increase of shear strength of clay in the vicinity of soil-cement column. Laboratory and field tests were conducted to investigate the effects on surrounding clay during and after soil-cement column installation in soft Ariake clay. Discussions were made on the mechanism of strength changes of clay by considering the thixotropic recovery, reconsolidation effect, penetration of cement slurry and diffusion of exchangeable cations. On the basis of field and laboratory observations, 10 days after column installation, the decreased shear strength of surrounding clay during mixing was recovered and 30 days later, shear strength of surrounding clay increased 30% by average. Therefore, it is recommended that the increase of shear strength of clay can be taken into consideration in the bearing capacity and stability analysis of the composite ground.