A new solution to the ultimate bearing capacity of reinforced ground near slope based on the unified strength theory

In view of two modes of general shear failure and composite failure of reinforced ground, a new solution to the ultimate bearing capacity of strip footings resting on reinforced ground near slope was derived based on the unified strength theory and the application procedures were given. Effects of the intermediate principal stress, the vertical spacing between reinforced material layers, the number of reinforced material layers, and the tensile strength of reinforced materials were comprehensively taken into consideration in the new solution. Compared with other methods, the effectiveness and parameter influence characteristics of the proposed method were discussed. The results showed that the obtained solution to the ultimate bearing capacity of reinforced ground agreed well with the results of model tests reported in the literature, and it had wide applicability. With the increase of the effect of intermediate principal stress, the ultimate bearing capacity of reinforced ground near slope subjected to general shear failure and composite failure increased markedly. As the vertical spacing between reinforced material layers increased, the ultimate bearing capacity of reinforced ground near slope increased first and then decreased under the general shear failure, but it would gradually reduce under the composite failure. The influence of the number of reinforced layers under the general shear failure can be divided into three stages, and that under the composite failure can be divided into two stages. Meanwhile, the effect of the tensile strength of reinforced materials cannot be ignored. The research results can provide useful references for the optimization design of reinforced ground near slope.