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Optimum planar reinforcement parameters for enhancing the load carrying capacity of strip foundations on reinforced sandy soils

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Abstract

Strengthening of soil with reinforcement is one of the ground improvement techniques which provide practical solutions for unpaved roads and foundations on weak soils. The improvement of loose to medium sandy deposits (ϕ ≤ 30°) with suitable reinforcements improves the strength and reduces the settlement. This study is focussed on the determination of optimum values of reinforcement parameters for the metallic and geosynthetic materials reinforced in the sand bed for maximizing the load carrying capacity of the strip footing. The finite element approach is employed to assess the increased bearing capacity of the reinforced sand bed. A practical elasto-plastic analysis procedure is used considering Drucker–Prager material model for the soil. The results of the finite element analysis are validated with those available in the published literature. Parametric studies are carried out by considering different factors such as reinforcement material type, geometry and location of the reinforcement below the footing. Based on the results, the optimum reinforcement parameters are obtained. The reinforcement length, spacing between the layers and number of layers are obtained, respectively, as 4–6B, 0.25–0.5B and 5, where B is the width of the footing. It is recommended that the first layer of reinforcement be placed below the footing at 0.25–0.5B, for the maximum benefit to be derived for the bearing capacity of the footing. It is concluded that the depth of the influence zone is 1.5B below the footing. For the reinforcement materials—nylon, aluminium, and galvanized steel the increase in the load carrying capacity are 183, 233 and 245%, respectively, compared to the unreinforced sand bed.

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Abbreviations

RFS:

Reinforced foundation soil

B :

Foundation width

L :

Length of the reinforcement

Z :

Vertical spacing of the reinforcing layers

U :

Depth of the first reinforcing layer

N :

Number of reinforcing layers

E R :

Modulus of elasticity of reinforcement

E S :

Modulus of elasticity of soil

q :

Strip load (kN/m2)

GST:

Galvanized steel reinforcement

AL:

Aluminium reinforcement

NY:

Nylon reinforcement

BCR:

Bearing capacity ratio

CST:

Constant strain triangular element

deg:

Degrees

c :

Cohesion of soil

σ x, σ y and σ z :

Element stresses in X, Y and Z directions

τ xy :

Element shear stress in the XY plane

ϕ :

Angle of internal friction of soil

ψ :

Dilation angle

ν :

Poisson’s ratio of the material

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Acknowledgements

The author gratefully acknowledges the reviewers for their valuable inputs and suggestions in the improvement of the paper. Also, constructive suggestions from Professor G.R. Dodagoudar, Indian institute of Technology, Chennai has been very beneficial in improving the manuscript.

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  1. Department of Civil Engineering, M.S. Ramaiah Institute of Technology, MSRIT Post, M S Ramaiah Nagar, MSR Nagar, Bengaluru, Karnataka, 560054, India

    D. S. Shridhar

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Shridhar, D.S. Optimum planar reinforcement parameters for enhancing the load carrying capacity of strip foundations on reinforced sandy soils. Innov. Infrastruct. Solut. 7, 18 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41062-021-00618-6

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