Performance of Sand Compaction Pile as an Alternative Ground Improvement Technique

Sand compaction piles are thought of as one of the more adaptable and affordable ground improvement methods. When sand compaction piles are installed, the underlying soils become a stiffer composite mass, and the intervening native soil exhibits reduced overall compressibility and higher shear strength. The effectiveness of this ground improvement approach is greatly influenced by the installation method. The installation of sand compaction piles in Bangladesh's soft ground has a history of effective use of the rammed-displacement method. This study aims to assess the effectiveness of sand compaction piles as a ground-improved technology in the southwest region of Bangladesh. The 8.25 m long and 300 mm in diameter, and single sand compaction piles were erected. A 0.30m diameter plate positioned 0.90 meters below the present ground surface was used for load testing on both the natural and upgraded ground. Plate load tests were performed on the natural ground and on top of sand heaps after six months and one year after installation. Standard penetration tests were also carried out to determine how the sand pile construction affected the rigidity of the soil. The test findings have shown that the construction of sand compaction piles enhanced the normal ground's bearing capacity by 210–260 percent compared to the natural ground. Therefore, it can be recommended that the sand compaction pile method be utilized as an alternative soil improvement approach for increasing the load-carrying performance of soft soil.