Embankments over soft subsoils supported by piles or stone columns have severaladvantages over the classical unsupported embankment foundation when comparedin terms of bearing capacity, serviceability, and duration of construction. Inextremely soft soil conditions, lateral support can be problematic for stone columns.An alternative system, which can both provide the required lateral support andincrease bearing capacity, is the "Geosynthetic Encased Columns" (GECs). Thissystem includes a high-modulus, creep resistant geotextile encasement calledRingtrac? that confines the compacted sand or gravel column thereby providingconstructability and bearing capacity even in extremely soft soil. The followingdescribes the design principles, technologies and procedures developed over the pastten years and the importance of the geotextile encasement's tensile modulus. Alsopresented are graphs showing the influence of different factors on settlement. Theycould be also used in preliminary designs for orientation and proper encasement selection.
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