Abstract

Results from laboratory model tests performed on circular footing are presented in this paper to understand the performance of geocell reinforced expansive soil. Naturally occurring expansive soil was used in this study as subsoil. Geocells of chevron pattern fabricated from geotextile made up of polypropylene were used to reinforce the soil bed. The parameters studied in this testing program were the placement depth of the geocell mattress, pocket size of geocell and the height of geocell mattress. Contrary to other researchers; the improvement in the performance of reinforced bed is evaluated at a settlement level equal to the failure settlement of unreinforced soil bed. The performance of reinforced bed is evaluated through two non-dimensional factors viz. bearing capacity improvement factor (If) and settlement reduction factor (PRS%). Test results indicated that with the introduction of geocell as reinforcement, a substantial improvement in bearing capacity and decrease in footing settlement can be achieved. Bearing capacity of reinforced bed increases by more than 200% and 81% reduction in footing settlement was achieved by using geocell mattress of optimal dimensions and placing it just below the footing base.

Highlights

  • Due to rapid urbanization, need arises to construct structures on expansive soils

  • Behavior of bearing pressure responses with the settlement for different heights of geocell mattress is in the Figure 7

  • Results of model tests conducted on circular footing placed on expansive soil reinforced with geocells of chevron pattern are presented in this research paper

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Summary

Introduction

Due to rapid urbanization, need arises to construct structures on expansive soils. But there is difficulty in building any infrastructure facility over such soils due to its shrinkage and swelling properties. Reinforcing soils is one of the effective and reliable techniques to improve their strength since reinforcing soils improve bearing capacity & stability and reduce lateral deformation & settlement [1,2,3]. It has been shown that geocell improve the strength of soil by reducing lateral spreading, providing confinement and causing the cramped composite to behave as a more rigid mattress [14]. It intercepts the possible failure planes, and the rigidity of mattress forces them deeper into the foundation soil and improving bearing capacity

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