Field and Numerical Assessment of Geogrid-Reinforced Embankments Over Soft Clay

International Journal of Civil Engineering

© 2025 by SSRG - IJCE Journal

Volume 12 Issue 11

Year of Publication : 2025

Authors : Ali Gamal Abdel Zaher, Samir Abdelfattah, Mostafa Merzk, Sherif Abdelaziz Mazk

10.14445/23488352/IJCE-V12I11P118

How to Cite?

Ali Gamal Abdel Zaher, Samir Abdelfattah, Mostafa Merzk, Sherif Abdelaziz Mazk, "Field and Numerical Assessment of Geogrid-Reinforced Embankments Over Soft Clay," SSRG International Journal of Civil Engineering, vol. 12,  no. 11, pp. 244-258, 2025. Crossref, https://doi.org/10.14445/23488352/IJCE-V12I11P118

Abstract:

Soft clay deposits in Egypt’s northern Nile Delta create persistent problems for canal and embankment construction. The soil at the site is soft and highly compressible, with limited drainage, which often leads to large settlements and instability of the slope. In this work, a geogrid-reinforced embankment was used as a simple and economical method to improve the behavior of slopes resting on soft clay. The embankment was constructed from compacted sand layers separated by biaxial geogrids and supported on a crushed-stone layer about one meter thick. This foundation rested on roughly ten meters of soft clay. Field monitoring using settlement plates and inclinometers was carried out to record the vertical and horizontal ground movements during service conditions. A 2D numerical model was created in PLAXIS 2D and then modified according to the field measurements. The results from the model were very similar to the real recorded data, which means that the model could simulate the actual soil and structure behavior with good accuracy. After confirming this consistency, additional analyses were carried out to explore how variations in soil properties and reinforcement characteristics could influence the overall response of the system. The results indicated that higher geogrid stiffness and smaller vertical spacing improved slope stability, while a thicker stone base helped reduce settlement. The findings provide practical direction for engineers to design safer and more economical reinforced embankments under similar ground conditions.

Keywords:

Embankment stability, Finite element modeling, Geogrid reinforcements, Soft clays, Soil improvements.

References:

[1] Braja M. Das, Cavit Atalar, and Eun Chul Shin, "Behaviour of Embankment over Soft Clay Supported by Geogrid and Concrete Piles," Proceedings of the 11th International Conference on Geosynthetics, Seoul, Korea, pp. 1-8, 2018.
[Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[2] Hany A. Lotfi, Mahmoud Y. Shokry, and Rami M. El-Sherbiny, "Three Dimensional Finite Element Analysis of Geogrid Reinforced Piled Embankments on Soft Clay," EuroGeo, pp. 1507-1517, 2016.
[Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[3] Marcio de Souza Soares de Almeida et al., "Ground Improvement Techniques Applied to Very Soft Clays: State of Knowledge and Recent Advances," Soils and Rocks, vol. 46, no. 1, pp. 1-32, 2023.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[4] M. Mushaathoni, and S. Naidoo, "High-Strength Geogrids for Enhanced Ground Improvement: Design Considerations," Proceedings of the Geosynthetics Conference for Young Professionals, Irene Country Lodge, Irene, Centurion, pp. 1-6, 2024. [Google Scholar]
[5] Geosynthetic Materials Association, Geosynthetic Materials Association, The Association, 2003.
[Publisher Link]
[6] Kavitha S. Nair, and B.L. Deepthy, "Improvement of Soft Subgrade Using Geogrid Reinforcement," International Journal of Engineering Research & Technology, vol. 5, no. 8, pp. 1-3, 2017.
[Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[7] Shams A. Mohammed, Sepanta Naimi, and Ahmed H. AbdulKareem, "The Effect of Geogrid reinforcement of Embankment Over Soft Foundation," Periodicals of Engineering and Natural Sciences, vol. 10, no. 6, pp. 5-27, 2022.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[8] Murad Abu-Farsakh, Qiming Chen, and Radhey Sharma, "An Experimental Evaluation of the Behavior of Footings on Geosynthetic-Reinforced Sand," Soils and Foundations, vol. 53, no. 2, pp. 335-348, 2013.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[9] Deepanshu Agrawal, and Mohit Verma, "Analysis of Geogrid Reinforced Road Embankment using PLAXIS 2D," International Journal for Research Trends and Innovation, vol. 6, no. 8, pp. 1-4, 2021.
[Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[10] Jorge G. Zornberg, and Edward Kavazanjian Jr, "Prediction of the Performance of a Geogrid-Reinforced Slope Founded on Solid Waste," Soils and Foundations, vol. 41, no. 6, pp. 1-16, 2001.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[11] E.M. Comodromos, M.C. Papadopoulou, and N.S. Klimis, "Design of Reinforced Embankments: Limit Equilibrium and Numerical Methods," 9th International Conference on Geosynthetics, Brazil, pp. 1835-1838, 2010.
[Google Scholar]
[12] B.R. Christopher, and L.G. Schwarz, "Performance of Geogrids Overlying Geotextiles in Roadway Stabilization Applications," 9th International Conference on Geosynthetics, Brazil, pp. 1451-1456, 2010.
[Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[13] Ahmet Demir et al., "Experimental and Numerical Analyses of Circular Footing on Geogrid-Reinforced Granular Fill Underlain by Soft Clay," Acta Geotechnica, vol. 9, pp. 711-723, 2014.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[14] Robert M. Koerner, Designing with Geosynthetics, 6th ed., Xlibris US, vol. 1, pp. 1-526, 2012.
[Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[15] ASTM D1557-12(2021), Standard Test Methods for Laboratory Compaction Characteristics of Soil Using Modified Effort (56,000 ft-lbf/ft3 (2,700 kN-m/m3)), ASTM International, pp. 1-13, 2021.
[CrossRef] [Publisher Link]