Bearing capacity analysis of cohesive-frictional soil as filling material over soft soil

Abstract

Abstract The construction of superstructures on soft soils demands the desired bearing capacity. This can be achieved through various approaches, including improving soil properties using chemical methods, or by employing techniques such as increasing footing dimensions or using micro piles which are uneconomical and time-consuming. To overcome this, enhancement of bearing capacity of soft soils was done by simple and economical technique i.e., cutting the existing soft soil and filling the Cohesive-frictional soil with a defined ratio of top layer thickness to width of the footing. To conduct this analysis, Plaxis 3D software was employed to investigate soil behaviour and simulate various scenarios, to identify the optimum thickness of the fill layer required to enhance the desired bearing capacity of the strata while ensuring a prescribed settlement and load imposed by the superstructure following the Indian Standards for constructing a multi-storied building. The investigation determined that the optimum top layer thickness to footing width is 2. The findings of this study will contribute valuable insights into geotechnical engineering practices, offering a practical and economical solution for enhancing the bearing capacity of soft soils in construction projects.