Abstract: In this paper a new analytical method to analyse the behaviour of rigid foundations stabilized by end bearing stone-columns is proposed. The stone column and the surrounding soil are treated in axial symmetric conditions as a unit cell. The stone column is assumed to behave as an Mohr-Coulomb rigid-plastic material with non-associative flow rule according to the Rowe stress dilatancy theory and the soil as an elastic material. These common assumptions, combined with equilibrium and kinematic conditions, lead to the simple analytical closed-form solution for the prediction of the behaviour for rigid footings resting on stone-column reinforced ground. The parametric study is presented to show the effect of dilatancy of the granular material on the deformations and stresses in the ground and its beneficial effect on settlement reduction. The results of the new method are compared with some already known analytical methods and some published field test results and observations.Keywords: ground improvement, stone columns, ground settlements, dilatancy theoryPublished in DKUM: 17.05.2018; Views: 1363; Downloads: 74 Full text (307,66 KB)This document has many files! More...