EFFECT OF GEOGRID REINFORCEMENT ON LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY OF A COARSE SAND BED

A series of laboratory model tests was conducted to study the improvement in bearing capacity of coarse sands compacted to a relative density of 50%. A surface footing plate of diameter 60 mm was used as the shallow foundation. Circular geogrids of diameter 120 mm were used as horizontal reinforcement layers. The number of geogrids and the spacing between them were varied in the study. It was found that the bearing capacity of loose sand layers improved with introduction of horizontal geogrid reinforcement layer. Bearing capacity was found to improve further with increase in number of geogrid layers and with decrease in spacing between them. The depth to the geogrid layer from the base of the foundation was also varied in the study.