ABSTRACT
This article is dedicated to investigating the properties of soil after its reinforcement with fiberglass elements through large-scale laboratory plate-load tests of various samples that varied in the numbers and lengths of the reinforcing elements. The investigation of the vertical elements considered the diameter increase at the bottom toe by using widening washers. The results were compared relative to each other and to the theoretical calculation results. The theoretical calculations for the settlements were undertaken based on the authors' proposed method. The method considers the number, shape, area and material of the strengthening elements using a pre-proposed reinforcement area factor µ. This pre-established factor was calculated with reference to the elements' geometry-the diameter of the vertical elements and the bottom's washer diameter-which determined the reinforcement area. A comparison between the reinforced and reference soft sandy soil samples indicated a 25% increase in the deformation modulus after the reinforcement process at a pressure of 25 kPa. Samples with µ ranging from 1.20 to 1.43 were 55-65% stiffer than samples with µ equal to 0.69 at a pressure of 100 kPa. The comparative analysis of the calculated results and the actual laboratory PLT test results was adequate for use for further development.
ABSTRACT
This article is dedicated to developing a ground improvement technique using vertically oriented reinforcement elements prefabricated utilizing fiberglass pultruded pipe and helical shape wideners at the bottom toe. Structures of the prefabricated helical micropiles varied by the length and cross-section area introduced into the soil massive as reinforcing bearing elements. The effect of the reinforcements geometry variation was investigated through a reinforcement factor (µ), based on which a calculation method for measuring settlement of reinforced soil has been previously developed Full-scale field plate load tests were performed before and after reinforcing the soil to investigate the changes in the soil stiffness after the reinforcement process. Comparative analysis between the reinforced and reference soft sandy soil indicates an average increase in the deformation properties of the fiber reinforced soils by 8%, 30%, 63% at the applied pressures of 100, 300, and 550 kPa, respectively. The influence of the fiber reinforced polymers (FRP) geometrical properties on the final composite settlement was determined. A comparative analysis of the calculated and the actual plate load tests results reveals that the previously proposed settlement calculation method is adequate for further development.
