Stress Distribution below a Continuous Footing on Geotextile-Reinforced Soil

Abstract

This study investigated the additional vertical stress (Δσ) change occurring under the centerline of a continuous footing on geotextile-reinforced soil. For different reinforcement parameters and conditions, load tests and finite-element model (FEM) analyses were performed. It was determined that the presence of reinforcements reduces the additional vertical stress values. There is a good correlation in some cases between experimental measurements and FEM results, but the values obtained are different from the values proposed based on theoretical considerations developed for uniform materials. Each additional reinforcement layer affects Δσ, and different parameters can affect the values of Δσ. It was determined that the reinforcements create a discontinuity in the triangular failure wedge under the footing, thereby affecting the additional stress developed.