The ultimate bearing capacity of shallow foundations supported by soft clay is too low The bearing capacity of the foundation can be increased by placing a dense sand layer of limited thickness over the soft clay. This paper presents some laboratory model test results to evaluate the Improvement of the ultimate bearing capacity of shallow strip foundation supported by a strong sand layer underlain by a weak clay with a layer of georgic at the sand-clay Interface.
In shoreline construction of ports and harbors, soft clay subsoil may be encountered. In those cases, structures may have to be supported by piles instead of shallow foundations. In some instances, however, shallow foundations may be attempted for construction of structures by placing a compacted sand layer of limited thickness over the soft clay subsoil The sand layer helps increase the load-bearing capacity of the foundation and decreases the settlement at allowable load. With the development and use of geosynthetics in civil engineering projects, It appears that the load bearing capacity can be further increased by placing a layer of georgic at the interface of the clay subsoil and the compacted sand fill. This paper relates to some recent model test results which were conducted to determine the ultimate bearing capacity of shallow strip surface foundation supported by a compact sand layer of limited thickness over a soft clay with a georgic layer at the sand clay Interface.
Results of a limited number of studies are available at the present time (e g., Jacobsen et aI., 1977, Meyerhof, 1974, Meyerhof and Hanna, 1978) relating to the bearing capacity of shallow foundations on a strong sand layer of limited thickness overlying a soft clay (Fig 1).
