Influence of geotextile soil reinforcement layout on the deformation of a model soil-steel composite structure

Geotextiles have become a subject of scientific research in recent years due to their ability to reduce pressure on soil masses and buried structures. However, the effective optimal of geotextiles above the crown of the shell of a soil-steel composite structure (SSCS) is not well described in the literature. This article presents an analysis of the impact of geotextile placement at different locations in the ground cover over the crown of the shell on the behaviour of the steel shell. The tests were carried out under different static loads. In the article, a comparative analysis of the results obtained on a natural scale with those obtained using the finite element method (FEM) is presented. For the purpose of the analysis, an experimentally verified computational model was developed and implemented in the commercial FE code, namely, the Zsoil numerical programme. The result demonstrated a significant reduction in maximum displacements and stresses upon employing a single-layer geotextile. The most significant reduction in vertical displacement, amounting to 37%, was observed when the geotextile was positioned at a shallower depth, closer to the load's zone of influence. Furthermore, it was found that vertical displacements in the crown can be reduced by up to 40% with the application of a double layer of geotextile. Furthermore, analysis of the effect of the position of the geotextile layer revealed that reinforcement is more effective when placed at a shallower depth, closer to the zone of influence of the load. These findings provide valuable information for designers who want to optimise geotextile placement for enhanced performance in SSCS designs.