Influence of single-layer geotextile reinforcement on load capacity of buried steel box structure based on laboratory full-scale tests

Abstract

The paper attempts to evaluate changes in the load-bearing capacity of buried flexible structures in the aspect of using geotextiles as reinforcement of backfill. The laboratory tests carried out on a natural scale of steel box buried flexible structures with the use of only one layer of geotextiles confirms that the application of such reinforcement reduces the displacements and contributes to a slight reduction in stress values in the structure under maximum static loads. The results of vertical displacements of the crown of the structure for different types of static loads are even up to 30% lower for all cases of loads when a geotextile is used. In the case of the comparison of stress values in structural steel in the crown of the structure, a slight reduction under maximum static loads occurs. The carried out analyses were aimed at determining to what extent the use of one layer of geotextiles affects the bearing capacity of a tested buried flexible structure made of corrugated steel plates.