Treatment depth effects on settlement and deformation compatibility of dynamic compaction replacement foundations in coastal soft soil
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: To investigate treatment-depth effects on settlement and deformation compatibility in coastal soft soil, a two-dimensional axisymmetric finite-element model was developed for the Huanhu Road section in Dongfang City. The dynamic compaction replacement region was represented as an equivalent linear-elastic improved zone within a total-stress framework, while two prescribed groundwater-depth cases were used only as auxiliary sensitivity checks of the adopted density-based representation. As treatment depth increased from 3.0 to 6.0 m, settlement in the treated area changed only slightly, whereas settlement in the adjacent untreated area increased from 0.252 to 0.350 m. Consequently, differential settlement increased from 0.052 to 0.132 m and the differential settlement ratio from 20.8 to 37.8%. Stress- and strain-response analyses indicate that this trend is associated with vertical stress redistribution and an increasing mismatch in compressive deformation between the treated and untreated areas. The 3.5–4.0 m cases showed a relatively balanced response between settlement control and deformation compatibility within the investigated range. This range is a model-based reference rather than a field-validated design recommendation.
Source: Scientific Reports
Institution: Hainan University
Language: English
Subfield: Civil and Structural Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,690
OpenAlex ID: W7223124086