Bearing capacity of circular footing located on randomly reinforced sand bed

Abstract

Earth reinforcement is an effective and reliable technique for increasing the strength and stability of soils. The technique is used today in a variety of applications ranging from retaining structures and embankments to sub grade stabilization beneath footings and pavements. Reinforcement can vary greatly; either in form (strips, sheets, grids, bars, or fibers), texture (rough or smooth), and relative stiffness (high such as steel or low such as polymeric fabrics). In past practice reinforcements have typically consisted of long, flexible, galvanized steel strips with either a smooth or ribbed surface. Most field research to date on the mechanics of reinforced earth has tended to focus on high modulus, steel strips. (Wasti Y Butun MD [1997])However, randomly distributed fiber reinforced soils have recently attracted increasing attention in geotechnical engineering.
In comparison with systematically reinforced soils, randomly distributed fiber reinforced soils exhibit some advantages. Preparation of randomly distributed fiber reinforced soils represents soil stabilization by admixture. Discrete fibers are simply added and mixed with the soil, much like cement, lime, or other additives. Randomly distributed fibers offer strength isotropy and limit potential planes of weakness that can develop parallel to oriented reinforcement.(Yetimoglu T Salbas O [2003])
In the current study bearing capacities for sand specimens containing fiber contents 0%, 0.1%, 0.25%, 0.5%, 0.75% and having relative densities 40%, 55%, 73%, 88% were prepared and tested.