Performance Assessment of Square Footing on Jute Geocell-Reinforced Sand

Abstract

Incorporation of three-dimensional geocell is a soil reinforcement technique which is extensively used today and has proved to be reliable due to its confining capability which increases the load-carrying capacity of the soil. The concern over the deterioration of soil and the escalating costs of the presently used synthetic geocells has steered the need for a natural replacement. This research provides a precis of the sand bed being reinforced with jute geocell, developed with jute geotextile and its effectiveness evaluated through model plate load tests in the laboratory using a square footing. The parameters administering the performance, such as the depth of sand cushion above geocell (u), width of geocell (b), and height of geocell (h) with respect to the width of the footing (B) are varied to realize the optimum of the ratios. The results obtained from the test conducted to optimize the ratios are scrutinized to study the improvement in bearing capacity of soil. The bearing pressure of the jute geocell-reinforced soil at 10% settlement is 3.5 times higher than that of the unreinforced soil. The inherent properties of natural fibres like jute can meet the requirement of synthetic geocells and their eco-compatibility make them to rule over existing geocells. According to the procured results and discussion through the study, it is proven that jute geocells could very well be an alternative for reinforcing the soil.