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Three-dimensional numerical analysis of geocell-reinforced soft clay beds by considering the actual geometry of geocell pockets

Hegde, AM and Sitharam, TG (2015) Three-dimensional numerical analysis of geocell-reinforced soft clay beds by considering the actual geometry of geocell pockets. In: CANADIAN GEOTECHNICAL JOURNAL, 52 (9). pp. 1396-1407.

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/cgj-2014-0387

Abstract

Due to its complex honeycomb structure, the numerical modeling of the geocell has always been a big challenge. Generally, the equivalent composite approach is used to model the geocells. In the equivalent composite approach, the geocellsoil composite is treated as the soil layer with improved strength and stiffness values. Though this approach is very simple, it is unrealistic to model the geocells as the soil layer. This paper presents a more realistic approach of modeling the geocells in three-dimensional (3D) framework by considering the actual curvature of the geocell pocket. A square footing resting on geocell reinforced soft clay bed was modeled using the ``fast Lagrangian analysis of continua in 3D'' (FLAC(3D)) finite difference package. Three different material models, namely modified Cam-clay, Mohr-Coulomb, and linear elastic were used to simulate the behaviour of foundation soil, infill soil and the geocell, respectively. It was found that the geocells distribute the load laterally to the wider area below the footing as compared to the unreinforced case. More than 50% reduction in the stress was observed in the clay bed in the presence of geocells. In addition to geocells, two other cases, namely, only geogrid and geocell with additional basal geogrid cases were also simulated. The numerical model was systematically validated with the results of the physical model tests. Using the validated numerical model, parametric studies were conducted to evaluate the influence of various geocell properties on the performance of reinforced clay beds.

Item Type: Journal Article
Publication: CANADIAN GEOTECHNICAL JOURNAL
Publisher: CANADIAN SCIENCE PUBLISHING, NRC RESEARCH PRESS
Additional Information: Copy right for this article belongs to the CANADIAN SCIENCE PUBLISHING, NRC RESEARCH PRESS, 65 AURIGA DR, SUITE 203, OTTAWA, ON K2E 7W6, CANADA
Keywords: geocells; geogrid; numerical modeling; fast Lagrangian analysis of continua in 3D (FLAC); soft clay; plate load test; bearing capacity; footing
Department/Centre: Division of Mechanical Sciences > Civil Engineering
Date Deposited: 24 Sep 2015 06:59
Last Modified: 24 Sep 2015 06:59
URI: http://eprints.iisc.ac.in/id/eprint/52435

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