The 2nd Badong International Geohazards Symposium (BIGS2019)

87 / 2019-07-31 16:32:55

Attenuation of Dynamic Traffic Loads Transmitted to the Soil Subgrade Using Geocell Reinforcement in Sandy Soil

Dynamic traffic load, geocell reinforcement, sandy soil, surface settlement.

Prevention and Control of Reservoir Geohazards and Ecological Environmental Protection > Research and development of geohazards equipment

This paper presents the experimental study of geocell-reinforced sandy soil subjected to traffic dynamic loading. A series of laboratory experiments were conducted on a steel strip footing placed on sandy soil. The objective of the present study is to evaluate the suitability of the geocell reinforcement in reducing the vertical dynamic pressure induced by moving vehicles. The traffic dynamic load was simulated with the help of an apparatus that was manufactured for this purpose. The effect of different parameters was examined in this study include the load amplitude (0.5, and 1 ton), frequency of load (0.5, 1, and 2 Hz), and relative density of sandy soil (30% for loose state, and 60% for medium state). The pressure transmitted to the soil subgrade and soil surface settlement was measured during the tests to explain the mechanism of the geocell reinforcement system. It was concluded that when using geocell reinforcement with sandy soil, the vertical pressure can be reduced by about 45%, meanwhile, the reduction in settlement of soil surface is about 60%. In contrast, the degree of improvement decreases with increasing the amplitude of dynamic loading, load frequency and soil relative density.