Numerical Analysis of Strip Footing Bearing Capacity on Sand Reinforced with Inclined Geosynthetic Layers Filled with Aggregate
摘要
Finite-element limit analyses were performed to investigate the bearing behavior of a strip footing resting on sand reinforced with inclined geosynthetic wrap-around layers incorporating aggregate-filled ends. The proposed configuration introduced inclined wrap-around ends to improve stress redistribution and confinement within the reinforced soil mass. The load–settlement response and bearing capacity improvement were evaluated for cases with wrap-around ends filled with sand and aggregate. A parametric study assessed the influence of inclination angle, reinforcement width, and embedment depth on system performance. The results showed that the inclined aggregate-filled configuration increased the bearing capacity ratio (BCR) by approximately 15% compared with planar and non-filled inclined systems. In addition, the required reinforcement width was reduced by approximately 65% relative to conventional configurations while maintaining comparable performance. Optimal performance was achieved for lower inclination ratios of approximately 0.75–1.0, upper inclination ratios of approximately 0.25, reinforcement width ratios of approximately 1.0–1.5, and embedment depth ratios of approximately 0.1. These results demonstrate that the proposed system improves load transfer efficiency and enhances the overall performance of shallow foundations on geosynthetic-reinforced sand.