Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Numerical Analysis of Multi Layer Geosynthetic-Reinforced Granular Bed over Soft Fill

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Geotechnical and Geological Engineering Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In this paper, considering the plain strain conditions, a numerical study has been conducted to investigate the behavior of multi layer geosynthetic-reinforced granular bed overlying a soft soil using the Fast Lagrangian Analysis of Continua (FLAC) program. The granular fill, soft soil, and geosynthetic reinforcements are considered as linear elastic materials. The geosynthetic reinforcements are modeled as cable elements fully bonded with the surrounding soil, thus neglecting any slip. The results obtained from the present investigation showed very close agreement when compared with the results of finite element analysis and lumped parameter modeling. The distribution of vertical, lateral and shear stresses in the soil are greatly affected as the number of reinforcement layers is increased. If the tensile stiffness of geosynthetic layers increases and its value is no more than 4,000–5,000 kN/m, the settlement of the reinforced foundation decreases significantly. The reduction in settlement is insignificant when the tensile strength of the geosynthetics exceed the above value.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

B :

Half width of uniform surcharge load (m)

E s :

Elastic modulus of soft soil (N/m2)

E gb :

Elastic modulus of granular fill (N/m2)

E g :

Elastic modulus of geosynthetic layer (N/m2)

H s :

Thickness of the soft soil (m)

J :

Axial stiffness of the geosynthetic layer (N/m)

k s :

Modulus of subgrade reaction of the soft soil (kN/m3)

L :

Half width of geosynthetic-reinforced zone (m)

q :

Footing pressure on the top granular layer (N/m2)

t :

Thickness of the geosynthetic layer (m)

w :

Vertical settlement (m)

W :

Nondimensional vertical settlement (w/B) (dimensionless)

x :

Distance from the center of loading (m)

X :

Nondimensional distance (x/B) (dimensionless)

z :

Depth of soil (m)

σ zz :

Vertical stress (N/m2)

σ xx :

Lateral stress (N/m2)

σ xz :

Shear stress (N/m2)

μ s :

Poisson’s ratio of the soft soil (dimensionless)

μ gb :

Poisson’s ratio of the soft soil (dimensionless)

μ g :

Poisson’s ratio of the geosynthetic layers (dimensionless)

References

  • Ghosh C, Madhav MR (1994) Settlement response of a reinforced shallow earth bed. Geotextile Geomembr 13(9):643–656

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Deb K, Chandra S, Basudhar PK (2005) Settlement response of a multi layer geosynthetic-reinforced granular fill-soft soil system. Geosynth Int 12(6):288–298

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Han J, Gabr MA (2002) Numerical analysis of geosynthetic-reinforced and pile-supported earth platform over soft soil. J Geotech Environ Eng, ASCE 128(1):44–53

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Love JP, Burd HJ, Milligan GWE, Houlsby GT (1987) Analytical and model studies of reinforcement of a layer of granular fill on soft clay subgrade. Can Geotech J 24:611–622

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Madhav MR, Poorooshasb HB (1988) A new model for geosynthetic-reinforced soil. Comput Geotech 6(4):277–290

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maheshwari P, Basudhar PK, Chandra S (2004) Analysis of beams on reinforced granular beds. Geosynth Int 11(6):470–480

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nogami T, Yong TY (2003) Load-settlement analysis of geosynthetic-reinforced soil with a simplified model. Soils Found 43(3):33–42

    Google Scholar 

  • Poran CJ, Herrmann LR, Romstad KM (1989) Finite element analysis of footing on geogrid-reinforced soil. In: Proceeding of geosynthetics, San Diego, USA, pp 231–242

  • Poorooshasb HB (1989) Analysis of geosynthetic reinforced soil using a simple transform function. Comput Geotech 8(4):289–309

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Poorooshasb HB (1991) On mechanics of heavy reinforced granular mats. Soils Found 31(2):134–152

    Google Scholar 

  • Selvadurai APS (1979) Elastic analysis of soil-foundation interaction. Elsevier Scientific, Amsterdam

    Google Scholar 

  • Shukla SK, Chandra S (1994) A study of settlement response of a geosynthetic-reinforced compressible granular fill-soft soil system. Geotextile Geomembr 13(9):627–639

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shukla SK, Chandra S (1995) Modeling of geosynthetic-reinforced engineered granular fill on soft soil. Geosynth Int 2(3):603–617

    Google Scholar 

  • Yin JH (1997a) Modeling geosynthetic-reinforced granular fills over soft soil. Geosynth Int 4(2):165–185

    Google Scholar 

  • Yin JH (1997b) A non-linear model for geosynthetic-reinforced granular fill over soft soil. Geosynth Int 4(5):523–537

    Google Scholar 

  • Yin JH (2000) Comparative modeling study on reinforced beam on elastic foundation. J Geotech Environ Eng, ASCE 126(3):265–271

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhan C, Yin JH (2001) Elastic analysis of soil-geosynthetic interaction. Geosynth Int 8(1):27–48

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. Kousik Deb

    Present address: Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, 247667, India

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Kanpur, 208016, India

    Kousik Deb, Sarvesh Chandra & P. K. Basudhar

  2. Civil & Environmental Engineering Department, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia

    N. Sivakugan

Authors
  1. Kousik Deb
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. N. Sivakugan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Sarvesh Chandra
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. P. K. Basudhar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kousik Deb.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Deb, K., Sivakugan, N., Chandra, S. et al. Numerical Analysis of Multi Layer Geosynthetic-Reinforced Granular Bed over Soft Fill. Geotech Geol Eng 25, 639–646 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10706-007-9136-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10706-007-9136-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation