Experimental Model Studies on Strip Footings Resting on Geocell-Reinforced Sand Slopes

In this study, the influence of the three significant contributing factors affecting the behavior of the footings resting on the unreinforced and geocell-reinforced sand slopes are investigated using a series of small-scale model tests. These factors consist of the back length of the geocell layer, the footing setback and the slope inclination angle. Results indicate that the geocell inclusion, even with no back length, significantly improves the behavior of the foundations overlying the slopes. In addition, the optimum geocell back length ratio was found to be 0 and 2 at settlement ratios of lower than 20% and higher than 20% respectively. Moreover, the increase in the footing setback led to considerable growth in the bearing capacity of both unreinforced and reinforced model slopes. However, the most efficient footing setback ratio was found to be 1, in particular at mean and large settlement ratio values. Furthermore, the results suggest that both unreinforced and reinforced models gain bearing capacity as the slope angle declines. However, among the different slope angles considered in this study (0°, 25°, 30°, 35°), the most efficient geocell-reinforced slope was found to be the one with an inclination angle of 30°.