IMPROVEMENT OF.SAND BED FOUNDATION BY. VERTICAL BAMBOO REINFORCEMENT

Abstract

The development of reinforced earth has provided geotechnical engineers with a material which when appropri-ately employed, can offer substantial economies over conven-tional techniques. There is a growing and urgent need in all countries, especially in developing countries for research aimed at channelling local technology to design and construction of low cost housing, highways and other projects. This requires a greater significance in the light of cheap abundant locally available raw materials and labour coupled with high cost of imported materials of construction. The present work presents the results of laboratory 3-dimensional model tests on a square (20 cm x 20 cm) surface footing on a deep homogeneous, loose sand bed reinforced with vertical bamboo. The effect of spacing and extent of reinforcement from centre of footing on bearing capacity and settlement are studied. The two types of roughness effects are also being studied. Sand was deposited by rainfall technique at 1.5 gm/cc density. In the tests, loads, settlements' were measured. Computations, plots analysis results and conclusions have been presented in the report.