Subgrade modulus of geocell-reinforced sand foundations

This paper presents the subgrade modulus aspect of geocell-reinforced sand foundation beds, where most of the reported work deals with bearing capacity. Through a series of laboratory model tests the influence on the subgrade modulus of different parameters, such as the geometry and position of placement of the geocell layer, has been examined. With the provision of geocell.reinforcement, the subgrade modulus of sand bed can be increased as high as eight times compared with the unreinforced case. A multiple-variable data regression is performed on the experimental data to establish a relation between the effect of reinforcing in terms of subgrade modulus improvement factor and the parameters that control the scheme of reinforcement. This equation will be of use in predicting the subgrade modulus of geocell-reinforced sand beds, and also in efficient utilisation of geocell reinforcement in increasing the performance of sand foundations.