Response of Square Footing on Geocell-Reinforced Sand Bed Under Static and Repeated Loads

Abstract

This paper describes the behaviour of a square model footing resting on a geocell-reinforced sand bed subjected to static and repeated loads. The static load tests were conducted to investigate the performance improvement of reinforced soil in terms of bearing capacity and settlement. The repeated load tests were carried out with varying initial static pressures to simulate the structures wherein the live loads change slowly and repeatedly such as oil or water storage tanks do. The ultimate bearing capacity, effect of initial static pressure as well as the number of load cycles without and with the use of geocell reinforcement were the main parameters to be investigated in this study. The results showed that with the provision of geocell reinforcement, the bearing capacity of reinforced soil increased by 2.4 times as compared to unreinforced soil, and the settlement decreased by 68% at the measured settlement level, s/B = 10% (s = settlement of footing, B = width of footing). It has also been observed that the total settlement reduces by 56% in case of geocell-reinforced sand after the application of 20 load cycles. Further, the results show that the total settlement increases at a gradually decreasing rate with an increase in initial static pressure and the number of load cycles.