An experimental investigation into the behavior of sand reinforced by tubular braided structures

This study introduces the tubular braided structure as a new geosynthetic material for sand reinforcement. The performance of a tubular braid under the influence of similar soil–reinforcement interaction mechanisms has been investigated to emphasize the effect of the reinforcement form on the performance of the reinforced soil composite. For this purpose, three series of interaction element tests including direct shear tests, pull-out tests, and soil stress control tests were conducted on the unreinforced and reinforced sand. Finally, the overall performance of the reinforced foundation bed with the planar and tubular reinforcing textile (with similar materials, properties, texture, and areal density) was evaluated through a series of standard plate load tests. The results indicated that the performance of the sand-braid composite was better compared to the similar typical planar reinforcement, except for the case of pull-out test. Tubular braid resulted in the enhanced shear strength of the reinforced soil composites, mobilization of the excess compressive stress in the enclosed soil inside the tubular braids, reduction in the vertical stress level of the footing model transferred down through the soil bed, the increase of the average bearing capacity of the footing model, and a significant reduction in the footing settlement.