REINFORCED GRANULAR FILL SOFT SOIL SYSTEM - MEMBRANE EFFECT

A new model for a reinforced shallow foundation bed is proposed by inc orporating the 'rough membrane' element for a single layer reinforceme nt. Mechanics of the rough membrane element with the assumption of hor izontal shear stress transfer at the soil/reinforcement interfaces are explained and formulated. The model is generalized by incorporating n onlinear responses of the soft soil and of the granular fill under pla ne strain loading conditions. The membrane effect is quantified in ter ms of the improvement in the load-settlement responses of the composit e foundation system over the unreinforced one. Parametric results indi cate that reinforcement while in tension spreads the load over a large r area, leading to a reduction in the settlement beneath the footing.