Effect of Geocells Geometry on the Performance of the Foundations

Abstract

In the present study, a series of tests has been carried out to develop an understanding of the influence of geocell reinforcement in improving performance of foundation beds under strip loading. It is observed that with the provision of geocell reinforcement, the bearing capacity of sand bed can be increased as high as 8 times compared to the unreinforced case. Improvement in bearing capacity increases with decrease in pocket size of geocells. The performance improvement is significant up to a geocell height of about 2 times the width of the footing. The optimum width of the geocell layer is around 4 times the footing width (B) at which stage, the geocell would intercept all the potential rupture planes formed in the foundation soil. To obtain maximum benefit, the top of geocell mattress should be at a depth of about 0.1B from the bottom of the footing. The findings of this study will be of use in efficient utilization of geocell reinforcement in increasing the performance of foundation beds.