Behaviours of eccentrically loaded model strip footing adjacent to reinforced sand slope

Eccentrically loaded footings can be often built near to slopes. In this case, ultimate load of the footing substantially decreases because of the slope. One method of inceasing of ultimate or safe load of the footing is to use reinforcement. Therefore, design of footing becomes important from the point of bearing capacity of footing. In this study; chancing of ultimate load with eccentricity (e/B= 0, 1/12, 1/6, 1/3), load - settlement behaviour and failure surfaces of surface (Df= 0) and shallow (Df= 20 mm) model strip footing adjacent to reinforced sand slope were investigated experimentally. Tests were carried out in the tank which internal dimensions were 0.9 m (length) × 0.65 m (height) × 0.1 m (width) by keeping constant of relative density of sand (Dr= 0.74), slope angle (ß= 30°), footing width (B= 80 mm), distance of the edge of the footing from the crest of the slope (De= 2B= 160 mm), type of reinforcement (woven geotextile) and distance of the reinforcement from the footing base (B/2= 40 mm). The usage of reinforcement makes an important contribution to the ultimate loads of sand slope. The ultimate loads decrease with increasing eccentricity. Primary failure surface occurs at the slope (eccentricity) side and secondary failure surface occurs at the other side. In addition, the length of the failure surfaces decreases with increasing eccentricity. In unreinforced case, triangle wedge occured under the centrally loaded strip footing transforms triangle + trapezium form for reinforced case. Because this triangle wedge occur under the reinforced layer, failure surfaces happen deeper. Key Words: Eccentrically Loaded Footing, Sand Slope, Reinforced Soil, Ultimate Load, Failure Surfaces.