a comparative study on the mechanical performance of unreinforced and reinforced stone columns using geotextile and recycled tire crumbs

Stone columns are among the most widely adopted techniques for improving soft sediments and loose fine-grained soils. they enhance the strength of weak soils and reduce settlement under applied loads. however, their performance in very soft soils is often limited due to the lateral displacement of column materials into the surrounding soil during loading. this lateral spread and settlement of stone materials reduce the effectiveness of the stone column system. to overcome these challenges, strategies such as increasing confining pressure or reinforcing the stone columns with geosynthetic materials have been explored. in this study, the mechanical performance of stone columns reinforced with geotextile encasement and tire crumbs was compared to that of unreinforced stone columns. tire crumbs, typically sourced from recycled tires, present an environmentally sustainable alternative by reducing tire waste accumulation in landfills and minimizing the associated environmental risks. their application in ground improvement contributes to greener geotechnical engineering practices. to evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed reinforcements, consolidated undrained triaxial tests were conducted on various specimens. the results revealed that tire crumbs significantly enhanced the elastic modulus, with an increase of approximately 60% observed in specimens containing 20% tire crumbs. this enhancement is likely due to reduced interlocking and weaker grain-to-grain bonding within the modified column material.