TY - CHAP
T1 - Finite element analysis to simulate controlled modulus columns installation in soft clay
AU - Jayasundara, Vajira
AU - Liyanapathirana, Samanthika
AU - Leo, Chin
PY - 2026
Y1 - 2026
N2 - Controlled Modulus Columns (CMC) are an increasingly popular ground improvement technique based on column inclusions, due to their simplicity and construction efficiency. CMC are installed using a displacement auger by displacing soil laterally around the column. However, the installation process induces significant soil deformations and complex nonlinear behaviour, posing challenges for numerical modelling. When such large deformation problems are simulated in conventional small-strain finite element programs severe mesh distortions often arise due to the extensive soil displacement, compromising the accuracy and stability of the analysis. This study employs the Coupled Eulerian-Lagrangian (CEL) approach available in ABAQUS/Explicit to simulate the CMC installation process. The Modified Cam-Clay constitutive model is adopted to represent the realistic behaviour of clay soils. The analysis focuses on evaluating the load-bearing capacity of the columns and the influence zone around the column by examining changes in horizontal stress. Additionally, the evolution of excess pore water pressure during installation is investigated.
AB - Controlled Modulus Columns (CMC) are an increasingly popular ground improvement technique based on column inclusions, due to their simplicity and construction efficiency. CMC are installed using a displacement auger by displacing soil laterally around the column. However, the installation process induces significant soil deformations and complex nonlinear behaviour, posing challenges for numerical modelling. When such large deformation problems are simulated in conventional small-strain finite element programs severe mesh distortions often arise due to the extensive soil displacement, compromising the accuracy and stability of the analysis. This study employs the Coupled Eulerian-Lagrangian (CEL) approach available in ABAQUS/Explicit to simulate the CMC installation process. The Modified Cam-Clay constitutive model is adopted to represent the realistic behaviour of clay soils. The analysis focuses on evaluating the load-bearing capacity of the columns and the influence zone around the column by examining changes in horizontal stress. Additionally, the evolution of excess pore water pressure during installation is investigated.
KW - CEL
KW - Controlled Modulus Columns
KW - displacement piles
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105039266074
UR - https://go.openathens.net/redirector/westernsydney.edu.au?url=https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-20885-9_15
U2 - 10.1007/978-3-032-20885-9_15
DO - 10.1007/978-3-032-20885-9_15
M3 - Chapter
AN - SCOPUS:105039266074
SN - 9783032208842
T3 - Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering
SP - 121
EP - 128
BT - 3rd International Conference on Geomechanics and Geoenvironmental Engineering: Proceedings of iCGMGE 2025
A2 - Hu, Pan
A2 - Nguyen, Giang
A2 - Leo, Chin
A2 - Wong, Henry
A2 - Liyanapathirana, Samanthika
PB - Springer
CY - Switzerland
T2 - 3rd International Conference on Geomechanics and Geoenvironmental Engineering, iCGMGE 2025
Y2 - 26 November 2025 through 28 November 2025
ER -