In order to investigate the use of geotextiles in improving the load carrying behaviour of soil.load tests were conducted on square model footings of three different sizes with sand as medium and jute fabric and plastic net as reinforcing material. It was observed that, placing of reinforcing material at a depth about 0.5 times the footing size results in maximum gain in ultimate bearing capacity. The gain in bearing capacity was found out to be 5 to 55% of that of homogeneous soil for lesser values of the ratio of the depth of reinforcement to footing size within a limit of settlement 0.2 times the footing size. Reinforcing material such as geiojute appears to act as a separating medium in sand used, thus preventing the failure zones going beyond the reinforcement layer and influencing the settlement considerably
Menu