Bearing capacity tests of strip footings on reinforced layered soil

The ultimate bearing capacity of strip footings resting on subsoil consisting of a strong sand layer (reinforced/unreinforced) overlying a low bearing capacity sand deposit has been investigated. Three principal problems were analysed based on results obtained from the model tests as follows: (1) the effect of stratified subsoil on the foundations bearing capacity; (2) the effect of reinforcing the top layer with horizontal layers of geogrid reinforcement on the bearing capacity; (3) effect of reinforcing stratified subsoil (reinforced and unreinforced) on the settlement of the foundation. It has been observed that reinforcing the subsoil after replacing the top layer of soil with a well-graded soil is beneficial as the mobilization of soil-reinforcement frictional resistance will increase.