Bearing capacity-relative density behavior of circular footings resting on geocell-reinforced sand

Geocell reinforcement (GR) improves load-deformation behavior of shallow foundations. A series of instrumented large-scale plate load tests was performed to ascertain such improvements and to correlate that to the relative density (D-r ) of geocell-reinforced sand (GRS). Variable effects on stiffness, bearing capacity (BC), load dispersion and strain-stress behaviors are discussed. The extensive tests made it possible to arrive at a simplified analytical procedure for predicting the BC of circular footings on GRS, taking into account probable shear failure mechanisms and monitored GR deformation. These results allowed the validation and generalization of the procedure reduced from an equivalent-layer BC model considering 'confinement' and 'stress dispersion' effects on the failure mechanism. Load dispersion angle and strains increase with increasing the sand D-r resulted in significant stress reduction below the GR. This was found most beneficial for the higher densities ranges. The proposed analytical approach can confidently be used for practical design purposes.