Use of soil reinforced with geogrids under shallow foundations for enhanced performance

Abstract

In many cases engineers have precautions when they plan and execute a traditional subsoil excavation and substitution for better compacted selected soil. However, in the author’s practical experience frequently they tend to miss the focus about the zone of influence of the bearing pressure underneath foundations, sometimes only improving the soil within the depth that excavators allow until a depth around 3.5 meters in practice. This is why, the soil reinforcement beneath shallow foundations can be a good ally to many projects, especially in cities where deep or concrete slabs foundations are not a standard or that they aren’t implemented because of limited resources or lack of technical guidelines or requirements. This technique has proven to be very valuable engineering wise for projects because, when properly designed, brings improvement of bearing capacity and/or a reduction in settlements providing a previsible engineering approach that helps to build more resilient structures. Also, they help reduce: costs, time and environmental impact. The author’s experience has permit to observe that because not knowing about its benefits or lack of regulations, people have lost their investments because premature structural pathologies. This paper presents practical recommendations for daily engineering practice implemented in a local case study.