Geocell reinforcement for performance improvement of vertical plate anchors in sand

In this paper influence of geocell reinforcement on performance of vertical plate anchors is studied. A series of model tests were carried out in a test bed-cum-loading frame assembly. The anchor used was a steel plate of size 100 mm × 100 mm. With geocell reinforcement the anchor could sustain deformations as high as 60–70% of its height when the load carrying capacity was increased by four fold. The optimum length, width, and height of geocell mattress giving maximum performance improvement are found to be 5, 3 and 2.8 times the anchor height respectively. For adequate performance improvement size of geocell pocket opening should be close to the anchor size. The load dispersion angle that depicts the rigidity of the geocell mattress tends to increase with increase in its width, height and reduction in pocket size. A numerical study using fast Lagrangian analysis of continua was carried out. The agreement between observed and computed results is found to be reasonably good.