Slippage effect on the settlement response of a granular soft soil system

Abstract

In this paper a numerical study using the finite element method is undertaken to predict the settlement response of a footing, considering plane strain conditions, resting on a reinforced granular bed on soft soil. The granular fill, soft soil and geosynthetic reinforcement are considered as non linear materials. The geosynthetic reinforcement is modelled with interface elements for allowing slip between the soil and reinforcement. The results obtained from the present investigation showed close agreement when compared with the results of finite element analysis and lumped parameter modelling carried out by previous researchers, assuming no slip conditions. The number of reinforcement layers was taken as one or three (multilayer). A parametric study has been carried out to illustrate the effect of slippage of the reinforcement layer on the settlement response. The increase in the settlement is not significant when the slippage of the reinforcement is considered.