Numerical Analysis to Study the Scale Effect of Shallow Foundation on Reinforced Soils

This research study aims at investigating the scale effect of shallow foundation on reinforced soils using finite element analysis. The finite element model was first verified by the results of laboratory model footing tests, and then was used to numerically investigate the load-settlement response of different footing sizes on reinforced soil foundations. Two different soil-reinforcement interface models were studied and three different reinforcement configurations were examined. The results of finite element analyses indicate that the scale effect of reinforced soil foundation is mainly related to the reinforcement ratio (R_r) of the reinforced zone. The difference in the bearing capacity becomes negligible as long as the reinforcement depth ratio (d/B) and the reinforcement ratio (R_r) of the reinforced zone remain constant for all footing sizes.