Enhancing Load-Bearing Capacity of Weak Soils Using Geosynthetics: A Finite Element Analysis

Abstract

In the context of mining applications and the increasing demand for high load-bearing soils, utilizing weak soils poses a significant challenge. This study investigates the effectiveness of geosynthetics in stabilizing weak soils through numerical modeling using Abaqus software (R2016X)and validation via laboratory model testing. We examined the impact of various geosynthetic lengths and embedment depths across three soil types: clay loam (ML), sand (SM), and well-graded sand (SW). Our results reveal that ML and SM soil types exhibit local shear failure, while SW soil types demonstrate general shear failure. Notably, the bearing capacity of soils increases with coarser particle sizes due to higher Meyerhof parameters, leading to soil failure at lower settlements. Optimal geotextile embedment depths were determined as H/B = 0.125 for ML soil, H/B = 0.250 for SM soil, and H/B = 0.5 for SW soil. Additionally, the effect of geotextile length on bearing capacity is more pronounced in ML soil, suggesting greater effectiveness in fine-grained soils. The optimal geotextile lengths for installation are approximately 1.5 times the width for ML soil, 1.0 times for SM soil, and 1.0 times for SW soil. We also found that SW soil typically fails at lower settlements compared to ML and SM soils. Consequently, geotextile placement at shallower depths is recommended for SW soil, where the soil experiences higher tension and pressure. These findings contribute to enhance soil stabilization and load management in mining geotechnics.