Verification of the Load Transfer Mechanism of Geocell Reinforced Soil in Large Scale Model Tests and Different In Situ Test Fields

Geocells consist of a series of interconnected single cells made from different materials. The cell walls completely encase the infill material and provide an all-around confinement to the soil. During vertical loading hoop stresses within the cell walls and earth resistance in the adjacent cells are mobilized which increase the stiffness of the soil. As a result the applied vertical load is transferred over a larger area and the settlements and the vertical stresses on the subgrade are reduced. Settlement and vertical stress measurements in asphalt road constructions have shown that the geocells reduce the settlements and the vertical stresses on the subgrade about 30 percent. Placement of geocell reinforced soil layer over vertical columns has shown that the geocells transferred the loads to the vertical columns and reduced the vertical stresses on the soft subgrade. Details and results of model tests and in-situ field tests are presented in the paper.