G MS THESIS_final version_Maxim Prokudin.pdf - Digital Repository ...

71space in the test bed (See Figure 40). Placing and testing individual piers within a short radialdistance from the other piers was expected to develop lateral stresses in the matrix soil thatcould have had potential stress implications on the neighboring piers. However, having eachindividual pier to be within the same radial distance away from the other piers, the impact ofsoil developing additional lateral stresses was assumed to be equal for all piers located withinthe test bed.Figure 40: Test bed single isolated pier layout (top view)Spacing piers at a radial distance of 230 mm was deemed to be sufficient to preventinterference (Lawton, 2000). Moreover, the research performed on groups of model stonecolumns has shown the optimum spacing for 29 mm piers to be at 76 mm on center,therefore, for the 76 mm piers used in this research the minimum spacing was estimated at200 mm on center (Bachus and Barksdale, 1984).