Geosynthetic materials, including geotextiles, have increasingly been utilized in civil engineering structures such as dikes, quay walls, and embankments due to their superior reinforcing capabilities, durability, and sustainability benefits. The innovative approach of encapsulating granular soil like sands and gravels in geotextile containers presents significant improvements in soil stiffness and strength, thereby enhancing structural stability and contributing to sustainable construction practices by reducing the use of conventional construction materials and minimizing environmental impact.
Despite the acknowledged benefits of cellular reinforcements and proof-of-concept study via numerical simulations, experimental validation and a comprehensive understanding of the stress-strain behavior and confinement mechanisms under realistic loading conditions remain limited.
This research will conduct a series of controlled laboratory unconfined uniaxial and triaxial compression tests on sand encapsulated in geotextile containers. Measurements will include lateral deformation, axial strain, and stress distribution within the reinforced specimens. As a key objective, this thesis project will experimentally determine the relationships among axial and lateral deformation, during uniaxial and triaxial loading, and the additional confinement-induced stresses in sand-filled cellular reinforcement structures.
The study's findings will significantly impact the application of sustainable geosynthetic cellular reinforcements in dike and quay wall constructions, enhancing their structural integrity, safety, environmental performance, and long-term sustainability.
References
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0266114417300481
- http://dx.doi.org/10.1061/9780784480045.016
Supervision
Are you interested in this assignment? Contact the Master thesis coordinator:
