Review on Experimental Insights into the Impact of Slenderness Ratio on Soil-binder Columns in Soft Soils.

Abstract

The increased need for construction in areas with poor soil conditions, such as peaty clay, necessitates the development of cost-effective and long-term ground improvement strategies. One such technique is the soil-binder column, which combines soil and cementitious materials to generate a strengthened column capable of supporting structural loads. It is still unclear how the slenderness ratio affects the performance of soil-binder columns, especially in very soft soil like peaty clay. Research on slenderness ratio has predominantly focused on concrete columns, such as reinforced or composite types, due to their widespread applications. In contrast, soil-binder columns have received comperatively limited attention. Among the available studies, most focus on soil-cement columns with smaller slenderness ratios and under non-seismic conditions. It has been demonstrated that the slenderness ratio has a major effect on the columns' stability and compressive strength. As slenderness grows, bearing capacity decreases, lateral deformation increases, and the failure mechanism changes. However, no comprehensive research has been conducted on their performance at higher slenderness ratios or their interaction with structures during seismic events. This review emphasises the scarcity of studies that investigate the effect of higher slenderness values on the seismic performance of soil-binder columns. Knowing how these columns behave under dynamic stress is critical for ensuring the safety and stability of foundations in areas like Sri Lanka, where peaty soils and earthquake risks are prevalent. Not only that but also the requirement of further researches to determine the ideal slenderness ratio for soil-binder columns, especially where soft soils and seismic activity are involved. This will improve the design and implementation of this technique for the construction of infrastructure in difficult situations.