Laboratory investigation of boundary effect on pressure-settlement behavior of foundation soil with limited thickness involving geosynthetics

Plate loading tests were conducted to investigate the effect of a bottom boundary condition on the pressure-settlement behavior of a footing on sand with a limited thickness involving geosynthetics. Seven boundary materials including geosynthetics were used to create different boundary conditions at the bottom of the sand. Interface direct shear tests were conducted first to determine the interface friction angles between these boundary materials and sand, followed by plate loading tests to determine their pressure-settlement curves. Test results show that the sand with a limited thickness by a rigid bottom boundary had a higher bearing capacity than that with a larger thickness. The ultimate bearing capacity of the footing on the sand with a limited thickness generally increased with the increase of the interface friction angle. Geosynthetics provided better lateral restraint than other materials. An equation was developed to describe the relationship of the bearing capacity ratio of the sand with a limited thickness to that with a large thickness versus the soil thickness and the interface interaction coefficient. The effect of the boundary material on the back-calculated modulus of the sand was also evaluated.