Finite element analysis of geotextile-reinforced sand-bed subjected to strip loading

The study analyses the behavior of a geotextile-reinforced sand-bed subjected to strip loading using the finite element method. The soil–geotextile interaction has been modeled by assigning the contact conditions at the interface instead of using the conventional joint elements. The proposed method has been calibrated and validated by comparing the results for some bench mark problems. Parametric studies examine the effect of reinforcement depth, the ratio of the modulus of elasticity of the geotextile and the soil, the variation of soil modulus with depth and soil layer properties on the settlement of the footings.