Experimental Study on Load-Settlement Behaviour of Cement Stabilised Footing with Different Dimensions on Sandy Soil

Laboratory tests were done to study the load-settlement behaviour. These tests evaluated rigid square footing on sandy soil and a layered system, stabilised with different dimensions and different cement contents. Nineteen plate load tests were done to make evaluations. The soil type used in tests was poorly graded sand in a box container with the following dimensions; cross section 130 cm x 130 cm and depth 100 cm. The soil was compacted in layers 10-cm thick. Cement was added in percentages of 2.5, 5 and 7.5 % by dry weight of soil. Samples were cured for 28 days, after which they were tested. Experimental data demonstrated effectiveness in terms of increasing bearing capacity and reducing settlement of the stabilised soil-cement layers. Results also showed difference in terms of crack propagation mechanism between samples with different cement contents as evaluations of number and direction. The load-time curves determined from test data showed that the required time to make constant the load variation versus time was more in those samples with 7.5 % cement content compared to those with cement contents of 2.5 and 5 %.