Ground improvement of soft clay bed using geocell mattres at foundation of an earthe n embankment

This paper studies the performance improvement due to the presence of Geocell layer at the base of the embankment over soft clay deposit. The experimental study was carried out by conducting tests on model embankments overlying soft clay with reinforcement by Geocell mattress at the interface between the earthen embankment and soft clay foundation bed, by varying its parameters like aspect ratio (pocket size), and type of infill material. The experiments have also carried out for Unreinforced and Geogrid reinforced foundation soil beneath the earthen embankment, to show comparative performance and ground improvement due to soil reinforcement using Geocell mattress. Test results indicated a considerable percentage reduction in settlements, lateral deformations and percentage increase in ultimate capacity of Geocell reinforced embankments, over unreinforced and Geogrid-reinforced embankment.