Triaxial tests on sand reinforced with one-layer 3D reinforcement

In conventional reinforced soils,the reinforcements are laid horizontally in the soil.A new concept of soil reinforced with 3 dimensional(3D) reinforcements was proposed in this paper.Triaxial tests were carried out on sand reinforced with one-layer 3D reinforcements(made of galvanized iron sheet and hard plastic sheet).The behavior of sand reinforced with different 3D reinforcing configurations was studied in terms of stress-strain relationship and shear strength of the soil.Comparison was made between stress-strain relationship and shear strength of the soil reinforced with horizontal reinforcement and with 3D reinforcements.The influences of the height of vertical reinforcements,the Young’s modulus of reinforcement materials and confining pressures on strength of reinforced sand were discussed.It was shown that 3D reinforcement increased not only the cohesion of the soil but also the angle of internal friction significantly,especially for those reinforced with double-sided 3D reinforcements.Different configurations of 3D reinforcement were discussed and compared.Double-sided vertical reinforcements would result in greater increase in strength than single-sided vertical reinforcements with the same height.