1. Ballasted columns

1.1 Introducing ballasted column technology

Ballasted columns belong to the family of soil reinforcement processes using inclusions. They are made up of granular materials pressed into the soft soil and compacted in successive passes.

Like most soil improvement techniques, ballasted column treatment not only reduces settlement and increases soil bearing capacity, but also accelerates soil consolidation thanks to the high drainage capacity of the column material. Ballasted columns are also effective in improving slope stability and treating soil against liquefaction.

The vibrocompaction methods presented in the previous article