Analysis of flexible reinforcement strip-soil interaction

In reinforcing strips placed below foundations, the shear and flexural interaction are considered to be the controlling mechanisms for soil-strip interaction. This paper describes an approach to analyse the flexural interaction between a flexible reinforcing strip and soil. The strip is modelled as a beam and the soil as an elastic half-space. Satisfying the compatibility of displacements at the soil-strip interface, the normal stresses mobilised at the interface are evaluated. The reduction in surface settlements due to these normal stresses is computed. Correction factors to estimate the reduction in settlements in terms of those for a rigid strip are proposed as a function of a flexibility ratio. It is shown that with an increase in the relative flexural rigidity of the strip, the interfacial normal stresses increase, thus resulting in an increase in settlement reduction of the points along the surface.