Performance of surface footing on geocell-reinforced soft clay beds

This paper presents the results of laboratory model tests carried out to develop an understanding of the behaviour of geocell-reinforced soft clay foundations under circular loading. Natural silty clay was used in this study. The geocells were prepared using biaxial polymer grid. The performance of the reinforced bed is quantified using non-dimensional factors i.e., Bearing capacity improvement factor (I_f) and Percentage reduction in footing settlement (PRS). The test results demonstrate that the geocell mattress redistributes the footing load over a wider area thereby improving the performance of the footing. The load carrying capacity of the clay bed is increased by a factor of up to about 4.5 times that of unreinforced bed. From the pressure-settlement responses, it is observed that the geocell-reinforced foundation bed behaves as a much stiffer system compared to the unreinforced case indicating that a substantial reduction in footing settlement can be achieved by providing geocell reinforcement in the soft clay bed. The maximum reduction in footing settlement obtained with the provision of geocell mattress of optimum size placed close to the footing is around 90%. Further improvement in performance is obtained with provision of an additional planar geogrid layer at the base of the geocell mattress.     

Equivalent Continuum Simulations of Geocell Reinforced Sand Beds Supporting Strip Footings

This paper presents an equivalent continuum method for simulating the behaviour of geocell reinforced sand foundation beds, using finite element technique. An equivalent composite model is used for numerically simulating the improvement in the strength and stiffness of sand confined with geocells. Shear strength of geocell encased sand is derived from the additional confining pressure due to geocell using hoop tension theory. The stiffness of geocell encased sand is represented by an empirical equation in terms of the stiffness of the unreinforced sand and the tensile modulus of the geocell material. Numerical simulations of strip footings resting on sand bed are carried out with and without geocell layer, varying parameters like, the dimensions of geocell layer, pocket size, depth of placement of geocell layer and the tensile modulus of the geocell material. The results of numerical analyses are validated with the corresponding experimental results. The comparison between the numerical results and the experimental results is found to be reasonably good. Some significant observations on the mechanism of geocell reinforcement have been presented in this paper.     

Effect of infill materials on the performance of geocell reinforced soft clay beds

The present study deals with model plate load tests conducted on geocell reinforced soft clay beds to evaluate the effect of infill materials on the performance of the geocell. Commercially available Neoweb geocells are used in the study. Three different infill materials namely aggregate, sand and local red soil were used in the study. The load carrying capacity of the geocell reinforced bed (as compared to an unreinforced bed) was found to be increased by 13 times for the aggregate infill, 11 times for the sand infill and 10 times for the red soil infill. Similarly the reduction in the settlement was in the order of 78%, 73% and 70% aggregate, sand and the red soil infill materials respectively. Results suggest that the performance of the geocell was not heavily influenced by the infill materials. Further, numerical simulations were carried out using FLAC^2D to validate the experimental findings. The results from numerical studies are in reasonably good agreement with the experimental findings. The outcome of this work is successfully implemented in the construction of the geocell foundation to support a 3 m high embankment in the settled red mud in Lanjighar (Orissa) in India.     

Numerical Study of Behavior of Circular Footing on Geogrid-Reinforced Sand Under Static and Dynamic Loading

A series of axi-symmetry models using finite element analyses were performed to investigate the behavior of circular footings over reinforced sand under static and dynamic loading. Geogrid was modeled as an elastic element and the soil was modeled using hardening soil model which use an elasto-plastic hyperbolic stress–strain relation. Several parameters including number of geogrid layers, depth to the first geogrid layer, spacing between layers and load amplitude of dynamic loading are selected in this paper to investigate the influence of these parameters on the performance of reinforced systems under both static and dynamic loads. The numerical studies demonstrated that the presence of geogrid in sand makes the relationship between contact pressure and settlement of reinforced system nearly linear until reaching the failure stage. The rate of footing settlement decreases as the number of loading cycles increases and the optimum values of the depth of first geogrid layer and spacing between layers is found 20% of the footing diameter. Some significant observations on the performance of footing-geogrid systems with change of the values of parametric study are presented in this paper.     

The bearing capacity of surface strip foundations on geogrid-reinforced sand and clay — a comparative study

Summary Laboratory model test results for the ultimate bearing capacity of a strip foundation supported by geogrid-reinforced sand and saturated clay are presented. One type of geogrid only was used for all the tests. On the basis of the model test results, the optimum depth and width of reinforcing layers and the optimum depth of the location of the first layer of the geogrid in sand and saturated clay were determined and compared.     

Computational simulation of time-dependent behavior of soil–structure interaction by using a novel creep model: Application to a geosynthetic-reinforced soil physical model

In this paper, a model geosynthetic-reinforced soil retaining walls (GRS-RW) is tested by vertically loading it through a rough footing on the top near the retaining wall and the results are simulated by a sophisticated nonlinear Finite Element Method (FEM) having a novel rate dependent constitutive model for both the backfill material and the geosynthetic reinforcement. Usually, polymer geosynthetic reinforcement is known to exhibit more-or-less rate-dependent stress–strain or load–strain behavior due to their viscous properties. The geomaterials (i.e., clay, sand, gravel and soft rock) also exhibit viscous properties. The viscous behavior of geometrials are quite different from that of the polymer based geosynthetic-reinforcements. It has been revealed recently that viscous behavior of sand is a kind of temporary effect, which vanishes with time. So the rate-dependent deformation of backfill reinforced with polymer geosynthetic reinforcement becomes highly complicated due to interactions between the elasto-viscoplastic properties of backfill and reinforcement. In the present study, a scaled model geosynthetic-reinforced soil retaining wall is tested with a vertically loaded rough rigid footing. The results of the model test are simulated by using an appropriate elasto-viscoplastic constitutive model of both sand and geogrid embedded in a nonlinear plane strain FEM.     

Experimental Study of Bearing Capacity of Granular Soils,Reinforced with Innovative Grid-Anchor System

The pull-out resistance of reinforcing elements is one of the most significant factors in increasing the bearing capacity of geosynthetic reinforced soils. In this research a new reinforcing element that includes elements (anchors) attached to ordinary geogrid for increasing the pull-out resistance of reinforcements is introduced. Reinforcement therefore consists of geogrid and anchors with cubic elements that attached to the geogrid, named (by the authors) Grid-Anchor. A total of 45 load tests were performed to investigate the bearing capacity of square footing on sand reinforced with this system. The effect of depth of the first reinforcement layer, the vertical spacing, the number and width of reinforcement layers, the distance that anchors are effective, effect of relative density, low strain stiffness and stiffness after local shear were investigated. Laboratory tests showed that when a single layer of reinforcement is used there is an optimum reinforcement embedment depth for which the bearing capacity is the greatest. There also appeared to be an optimum vertical spacing of reinforcing layers for multi-layer reinforced sand. The bearing capacity was also found to increase with increasing number of reinforcement layer, if the reinforcement were placed within a range of effective depth. The effect of soil density also is investigated. Finally the results were compared with the bearing capacity of footings on non-reinforced sand and sand reinforced with ordinary geogrid and the advantages of the Grid-Anchor were highlighted. Test results indicated that the use of Grid-Anchor to reinforce the sand increased the ultimate bearing capacity of shallow square footing by a factor of 3.0 and 1.8 times compared to that for un-reinforced soil and soil reinforced with ordinary geogrid, respectively.     

横-竖立体加筋地基中附加应力的分析计算

建立了横-竖立体加筋（H-V筋）地基的有限元模型,通过分析地基中的竖向应力分布、水平向位移分布以及筋-土界面相互作用,发现横-竖立体加筋地基中的竖向应力在筋材下方出现扩散和重分布,并逐渐向土体下部传递,使得土体中整体的应力分布更加均匀;同时,横-竖筋材中的竖筋类似于一个侧壁,其提供的垂直侧向力约束了介于竖筋间的土体,限制了土体的侧向水平位移,使得地基中筋材上部土体的侧向水平位移变小。基于有限元模拟对横-竖立体加筋地基加固机制的认识,将横-竖立体筋视为作用在地基上的一维弹性地基梁,通过弹性地基梁理论,根据弗拉曼解推导求解了横-竖立体加筋地基中任意一点竖向附加应力的计算表达式。将模型计算结果与有限元模拟所得结果进行对比发现两者吻合良好。     

Experimental and numerical analyses of circular footing on geogrid-reinforced granular fill underlain by soft clay

Experimental and numerical investigations into the bearing capacity of circular footing on geogrid-reinforced compacted granular fill layer overlying on natural clay deposit have been conducted in this study. A total of 8 field tests were carried out using circular model rigid footing with a diameter of 0.30 m. 3D numerical analyses were performed to simulate soil behavior using finite element program Plaxis 3D Foundation. The results from the FE analysis are in very good agreement with the experimental observations. It is shown that the degree of improvement depends on thickness of granular fill layer and properties and configuration of geogrid layers. Parameters of the experimental and numerical analyses include depth of first reinforcement, vertical spacing of reinforcement layers. The results indicate that the use of geogrid-reinforced granular fill layers over natural clay soils has considerable effects on the bearing capacity and significantly reduces the lateral displacement and vertical displacement of the footing.     

聚丙烯纤维加筋灰土的三轴强度特性

加筋技术作为20世纪一项重大发明,广泛运用于挡土墙、堤坝、桥台、护坡等工程中。加筋技术的快速发展推动了加筋材料的快速演变,催生了土工织物、土工格栅、土工格室等一大批土工合成材料,但加筋材料有一弱点：即筋材与填料间容易出现潜在破坏面。过去填料使用的是黏土、砂土,其强度都比较稳定,时间对其强度的影响极小。对于灰土这一类材料,其强度受时间影响较大,是否适于作为加筋土填料需进行研究。选取聚丙烯纤维作为加筋材料,研究了聚丙烯纤维加筋灰土的强度与变形特性。试验中,将3种不同百分比（0.05%,0.15%和0.25%）的聚丙烯纤维分别掺入到灰土比为1：9,2：8,3：7的灰土试样中,配制试样。通过三轴试验研究了不同纤维加筋率、不同灰土比、不同龄期及不同围压对加筋灰土的影响。试验结果表明：与普通的灰土相比,聚丙烯纤维加筋灰土其峰值偏应力和抗剪强度均有不同幅度提高     

Deformation analysis of geocell reinforcement using Winkler model

Geocell reinforcement has been increasingly applied to embankment engineerings. Deformation calculation is one of the major concerns during the design process. Using Winkler foundation model and with consideration of the interface resistance effect, a deformation control differential equation for the geocell reinforced mattress under the vertical symmetric loads is presented in this paper. The corresponding power-series semi analytic solutions for the displacements and the internal forces of geocell reinforcement are also presented. Furthermore, the influence factors such as loads, length and flexural rigidity of geocell reinforcement, coefficient of subgrade reaction and the interface resistance on the stress-deformation characteristic of geocell reinforcement are discussed. Finally, two examples are employed to verify the presented method. This study suggests that the effect of the interface resistance on the deformation of geocell reinforcement should be considered in engineering design.     

土工格栅加筋土地基平板载荷试验研究

在近年来的岩土工程实践中,土工合成材料加筋土技术得到越来越广泛的应用。采用平板载荷板试验方法,进行了多组加筋砂土地基模型试验,监测和分析了不同加筋材料（双向格栅与四向格栅）和加筋层数对土工格栅加筋土地基承载特性的影响。研究结果表明：土工格栅加筋土地基与无筋地基相比,承载性能得到改善,双层加筋明显优于单层加筋;土工格栅加筋限制了浅层地基的侧向变形,相同荷载下地基沉降减小,可恢复变形增大;模型试验中测得加筋材料应变和拉力很小,与土工格栅强度相比,拉伸模量对加筋土地基承载力的贡献更大。     

平面应变条件下土工格室加筋垫层的变形分析

将铺设在软土地基上的土工格室加筋垫层看作具有一定刚度的梁板。地基上梁板的变形计算一般以弹理论的文克尔假定为基础。针对文克尔假定中不考虑水平抗力影响的问题,提出了考虑水平抗力的双参数法,并以该法应用于土工格室加筋垫层工法的变形分析。     

水泥土桩联合土工格栅复合地基的离心模型试验研究

在软土地基上修筑路堤需要兼顾承载力和变形两方面的要求。针对山区沟谷软基的特点,采用了夯实水泥土桩与土工格栅联合加固的方法,是一种创新,选择合适的试验手段来研究该种型式的复合地基对于工程设计和施工具有重要意义。通过离心模型试验,模拟夯实水泥土桩联合土工格栅复合地基上路堤的填筑进程,水泥土桩采用石膏柱模拟,土工格栅采用预拉伸加筋格网模拟,试验得出了该种复合地基的工程特性。夯实水泥土桩具有较好的加固基础作用,格栅的主要作用是均衡上部荷载和减小差异沉降,采用夯实水泥土桩联合土工格栅的复合地基形式可以满足沟谷软基的沉降控制要求,其最终结论可以为设计和施工提供参考。     

土工格栅加固道路软基的试验研究

通过室内模型试验，对土工格栅加固道路软土地基的效果及机理进行了研究。除测出４种不同试验条件下基底压力与地基沉降的关系曲线外，还用读数显微镜精确观测了软土地基的位移场，并对试验结果作了初步分析，揭示了土工格栅能有效加固道路软基的某些机理。     

土工格栅路堤加筋效果的影响因素分析

土工格栅作为一种新型的土工合成材料,由于具有高强度、低延伸率等特点而被选作主要的路堤加筋材料,在路堤中适当位置加入土工格栅能有效地减少路堤的沉降和侧向变形。本文采用通用非线性有限元程序ABAQUS分析了加筋前后的路堤底部的竖向位移、堤址点垂线下地基深度的水平位移和地表的水平位移,计算中采用D rucker-Prager模型和C lay p las-tic ity模型模拟土体的非线性,土工格栅采用一维杆单元来模拟。通过对加筋层数、筋材模量、软基模量、填土高度和软土层厚度等影响加筋效果的因素进行对比分析,从计算结果分析可知,路堤加筋虽然对软土地基的竖向位移影响不大,但加筋能有效抑制侧向位移的发展,这样增大了路堤边坡的稳定性,分析结果与大多数实际工程的实测资料相吻合。     

振冲法处理淤泥土体的研究

18层住宅楼建在天然地基中的含淤泥土层上, 地基采用振冲法处理。通过对各楼不同层位处的载荷试验和主体施工中的沉降观测得出: 较厚淤泥层上的高层建筑地基采用振冲法处理可以取得经济可靠的效果; 加大振冲器功率可使基础沉降效果明显减小; 振冲桩复合地基中附加应力扩散现象随软土层上部相对硬层强度增加而增加, 但以上部土层厚度影响为主; 对于筏板基础, 载荷试验曲线初段受深度影响不能真实反映复合地基的压缩性。     

排水板和砂井联合堆载预压加固海相软土地基的工作性状的现场试验

针对场地内夹杂岸堤、塘埂和人行道路网的深厚海相软土地基处理,提出塑料排水板和袋装砂井联合堆载预压加固方法,并通过现场试验研究该类地基在路堤填筑及堆载预压过程中的地表及深层沉降特性、超孔隙水压力消散机制和地基水平位移规律等工作性状。结果表明,采用该方法处理深厚海相软土地基具有良好的加固效果,地基沉降大部分在填筑期和预压期间发生,有效降低了场地的工后沉降和施工工期,可为沿海深厚复杂海相软土地基加固处理提供参考;塑料排水板和袋装砂井联合堆载预压处理地基的沉降-时间曲线呈多级式发展,袋装砂井处理部位的沉降量小于塑料排水板处;软基上部土体的排水效果明显优于中、下部土体,排水板处理区域的超孔隙水压力大于砂井处理区域;软基顶部土体向堆载区域移动,地表3 m以下的软土层被挤向堆载处理区域外。     

吹填场区双层软黏土地基承载特性及破坏模式

针对天津滨海地区围海造陆工程所形成的上软、下硬双层软黏土地基,利用室内载荷试验和数值模拟开展了双层软黏土地基的承载特性及破坏模式研究。研究表明：由于下层沉积土的补强效应,双层软黏土地基的P-S曲线会出现明显的凹凸转折点,其出现的位置与宽厚比密切相关,宽厚比越小,转折点出现的时间越靠后,下层沉积土的补强效果越不明显。数值结果表明：双层软黏土地基破坏模式随着上覆土厚度的变化相差不大,均为整体剪切破坏。随着载荷板宽度的增加,双层软黏土地基以冲剪破坏模式过渡为局部剪切破坏,当载荷板宽度大于3.0 m时,表现为整体剪切破坏。     

土工格室加筋土垫层路堤临界高度研究

土工格室能有效减少软土地基上路堤的变形,并增强其稳定性,但对于土工格室加筋土垫层路堤的临界高度还少有研究。采用极限平衡分析方法,假定地基在路堤荷载作用下呈圆弧滑动破坏模式,将格室及其内的填土视为复合体,考虑格室复合体的应力扩散作用和侧向限制作用,提出了路堤临界高度的计算模型,并将该模型值与建立的有限差分模型结果进行对比,然后讨论了格室高度、应力扩散角及格室复合体与地基接触面摩擦系数对路堤临界高度的影响规律。结果表明,理论分析和数值计算结果吻合较好;加筋路堤的临界高度明显大于未加筋路堤的临界高度,并且增加此3种影响因素的取值均能提高路堤的临界高度;同时增强格室的侧向限制作用比提高格室高度和应力扩散角更有利于路堤的稳定。