Reviews on Finite Element Modeling Practices of Stone Columns for Soft Soil Stabilization Beneath an Embankment Dam

This article reviews the numerical approach in stone column practices and presents the benefits of stone columns as a ground improvement of soft soil to support an embankment dam. In this article, the methodological approaches to numerically modeling stone columns in both 2D and 3D studies, as well as the selection of an appropriate constitutive model are discussed. The numerical practices for the installation of the stone column and the validation procedures used to ensure the accuracy of the numerical analysis are also explained. In addition to that, the study also presents the benefits of stone columns in improving settlement behavior, slope stability, and decreasing the end time of consolidation. Parameters that influence the performance of the stone column with their respective results are also assessed.