Liquefaction Mitigation Using Stone Columns with Non-Darcy Flow Theory

• Published in: Geotechnical and geological engineering 2024-08, Vol.42 (6), p.4375-4399
• Main Authors: Taslimian, Rohollah, Noorzad, Ali
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Civil Engineering; Darcys law; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth Sciences; Earthquakes; Finite element method; Flow theory; Fluid flow; Geotechnical Engineering & Applied Earth Sciences; Ground motion; Hydrogeology; Hydrostatic pressure; Impact analysis; Liquefaction; Membrane permeability; Mitigation; Nonlinear response; Numerical analysis; Original Paper; Permeability; Pore pressure; Pore water; Pore water pressure; Porous media; Porous media flow; Pressure effects; Seepage; Seismic activity; Seismic response; Stone; Stone columns; Terrestrial Pollution; Waste Management/Waste Technology; Water pressure
• ISSN: 0960-3182; 1573-1529
• DOI: 10.1007/s10706-024-02785-6

One effective technique for mitigating the earthquake-induced liquefaction potential is the installation of stone columns. The permeability coefficients of stone columns are high enough to cause a high seepage velocity or expedited drainage. Under such conditions, the fluid flow law in porous media is not linear. Nevertheless, this nonlinear behavior in stone columns has not been evaluated in dynamic numerical analyses. This study proposes a dynamic finite element method that integrates nonlinear fluid flow law to evaluate the response of liquefiable ground improved by stone columns during seismic events. The impact of non-Darcy flow on the excess pore pressure and stress path compared to conventional Darcy law has been investigated numerically in stone columns. Furthermore, the effects of different permeability coefficients and stone column depths have been studied under near and far field strong ground motions. The results indicate that the non-Darcy flow increases the excess pore water pressure as high as 100% in comparison to the Darcy flow.