Experimental and numerical study on the bearing capacity of soils reinforced using geobags

In this study, the soil bearing capacity improvement using geobags is investigated. The bearing capacities of shallow foundations on reinforced and unreinforced soil under vertical loads are determined experimentally and numerically. Different sizes of geobags, as well as number and arrangement of geobags, were used in physical models and the load-settlement curves have been obtained. In the next step, laboratory conditions were simulated employing a 3D finite element computer code. Having validated the numerical modeling, the influence of other factors such as the scale effect on soil improvement and failure mode under a footing are investigated. Results of this study show that using geobags under footings significantly increases the bearing capacity of foundation. It was also found that the number and arrangement of geobags are the most important factors in the increase of bearing capacity and decrease of settlements of foundations.