SOIL-STRUCTURE INTERACTION OF TDA-GFRP-REINFORCED CONCRETE SLAB-ON-GRADE WITH GEOCELL-REINFORCED SANDY SOIL SUBGRADE

Abstract

Slab-on-grade has been established as a successful foundation method over the past decades. It is predominantly utilized in manufacturing plants, warehouses, and heavy facility hangars. The consolidative settlement of the slab-on-grade and soil structure occurs mainly due to the monotonic and cyclic incursion of various load types. Geocells are inserted underneath the slab-on-grade at a certain depth to enhance the subsoil structure properties to diminish the soil's pressure and unify the stress distribution pattern. Several studies were conducted on various slab-on-grade compositions placed on geocell-reinforced soil types, which have proven effective. However, the behavior of TDA-reinforced slabs-on-grade under monotonic loads has not been investigated thoroughly. In this study, slab-on-grades are infused with tire-derivative aggregates to replace coarse aggregate at 10 and 20 percent of their volume. The steel rebars have been replenished with glass-fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) to improve the moment resistance and flexibility of the slab-on-grade. Plate load tests were conducted on unreinforced and geocell-reinforced sandy soil to manifest the change in the density and bearing capacity of the soil. The control specimen was examined by imposing a monotonic load on the slab superimposed on top of the loose soil. The GFRP slab,10%-TDA-GFRP, and 20%-TDA-GFRP slab specimens are superimposed on top of unreinforced and geocell-reinforced sandy silt soil to examine under monotonic load. A 3D finite element model was developed using Plaxis 3D analysis software to analyze further and validate experimental laboratory tests, considering various relative densities of the soil subgrade. To summarize, a comparison between these control and special slab specimens is executed in terms of settlement of slab-on-grade versus applied load, concrete Cracking point load, and stress-strain curve to obtain the optimum TDA content and exalt the utilization of geocell-reinforced soil.