Rate of consolidation of stone column-improved ground considering change in permeability and compressibility during consolidation

In the available mathematical formulations to determine the rate of radial consolidation of stone column-improved ground, the soil properties especially permeability and compressibility are assumed to be constant during consolidation process. However, permeability changes with void ratio (void ratio also changes with consolidation) and compressibility of soil varies along the consolidation curve (compressibility is a function of effective stress and void ratio). Thus, these properties are not constant during consolidation period. In the present paper, mathematical formulation is developed to determine the rate of consolidation of stone column-improved ground due to radial flow considering change in permeability and compressibility of soft soil during consolidation period. Equal strain approach has been considered in the analysis. The parabolic variation in permeability and compressibility within smear zone are incorporated in the formulation. It is observed that the variation of degree of consolidation due to change in stress concentration ratio and diameter ratio reduces when variable soil properties are considered. The difference between the degree of consolidation obtained considering variable and constant soil properties is almost constant due to variation of smear zone parameters. The time required to achieve 90% degree of consolidation increases or decreases (depending on the properties of soil) by around 50%-100% or up to 25%, respectively, when change in soil properties during consolidation is considered.