Experimental and numerical investigation on reinforced sand samples

The results of an experimental and numerical study are summarized here concerning the mechanical behavior of reinforced sands. The experimental part of the investigation was carried out using both standard triaxial and plane strain equipments. In the latter case the specimens containing either horizontal reinforcements, or reinforcements inclined with respect to the vertical loading direction. Two alternative finite elements approaches, referred to as “inhomogeneous” and “homogeneous”, were adopted for interpreting the tests. The comparison between experimental and numerical results led to some conclusions on the influence of the mechanical properties of the geotextiles, and of their inclination, on the overall behaviour of the reinforced samples