Conventional laboratory triaxial compression equipment is used to conduct tests on sand reinforced with horizontal geotextile discs in order to estimate the apparent angle of friction, 6, between sand and geotextile. The behavior of the composite material (triaxial sample) is also modelled by elastic analysis using an available finite element program. The “equivalent confining stress increase” concept is used to interpret the results obtained from experimental and computer analysis. Observed and computed equivalent confining stress increases due to reinforcement are in very good agreement. The 6 values computed from experimental results range between 0.48 and 1.40 of the angle of friction of the sand, decrease with increasing normal interfacial stress and increase with increasing geotextile stiffness. The computer analysis yields a maximum 6 value at the perimeter of the reiforcement disc which is in excellent agreement with experimental results.
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