Jones, Brendon RonaldJacobsz, Schalk WillemVan Rooy, Jan Louis2016-07-112016-07-112016-06Jones BR, Jacobsz SW, Van Rooy JL. A qualitative model study on the effect of geosynthetic foundation reinforcement in sand overlying very soft clay. 25 J. S. Afr. Inst. Civ. Eng. 2016;58(2), Art. #1340, 10 pages. http://dx.DOI.org/ 10.17159/2309-8775/2016/v58n2a3.1021-201910.17159/2309-8775/2016/v58n2a3http://hdl.handle.net/2263/54699A centrifuge model study was carried out investigating the effects of the inclusion of geogrid reinforcement in a sand layer constructed over a thin, very soft clay layer to facilitate the construction of warehouse floors supporting product stockpiles. The use of geogrid reinforcement allowed larger surcharge loads to be applied for a given amount of settlement by allowing load to be spread over the footprint area of the geogrid due to the tension membrane effect and its associated benefits. A lower-bound calculation of the load at which the tensile reinforcement starts to function is presented. Upper-bound solutions were found to overestimate allowable surcharge loads, as they are associated with unacceptable deformations. The reinforcing effect of the geogrid was found to have been fully mobilised at 5% vertical compression of the clay layer.enSouth African Institution of Civil EngineeringCentrifuge modellingSoft clayGeogridReinforced sandEngineering, built environment and information technology articles SDG-09SDG-09: Industry, innovation and infrastructureArticle