Behavior and analysis of geotextiles used on very soft ground for earth filling works

Abstract One of the most typical problems which is often encountered when improvement of very soft ground is attempted is that the ground is too weak to support the weight of the fill which is spread on it. To solve this problem geotextiles are sometimes employed to cover the surface of such ground to increase its bearing capacity, but the design methods of geotextiles have not yet been established. This paper reports on the observational and analytical results from an experiment using ground reinforcement over the surface of a very soft clay. The reinforcement was a fabric strengthened by ropes which crossed the fabric orthogonally. An analysis was carried out using pneumatic membrane theory assuming the geotextile to heave due to the upward force of the very soft clay. A good correlation was observed between the analytical values and the results of the field measurements.