This manuscript deals with the experimental investigations which were carried out to explore the possibility of enhancing the performance of conventional Jute geogrid, by according a coating of bitumen. Efforts have been made to enhance the potentiality of conventional Jute geogrid in increasing bearing capacity of soil, by coating it with a layer of soft bitumen. On chemical hardening of bitumen, the resulting product of bitumen coated Jute geogrid was found to perform much better than the conventional Jute geogrid and commercial geogrids. Laboratory plate load tests were conducted on soft soil bed reinforced with a) conventional Jute geogrid b) bitumen coated Jute geogrid, and c) Commercial geogrids. A simple trial test series were carried to determine the optimum placement of reinforcement material in the soil bed by placing reinforcement materials at different locations throughout the height of the soil bed. Results from laboratory tests illustrated an increase of bearing capacity by 9 times when single reinforced and 10 times when double reinforced. A substantial reduction in settlement has also been observed with a maximum percentage reduction in settlement of 84%. Results from analytical investigations clearly proved optimum placing of the reinforcement material is towards the top surface of the clay bed to mobilize maximum tensile stresses.
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