Analysis and research on the bearing capacity of geocell reinforced cushion subgrade in liyu expressway

Abstract This paper takes the filling roadbed of the Lipu-Yulin Expressway (Liyu Expressway) project in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region as the backup project. Numerical simulation research is conducted by employing the general finite-element analysis software ABAQUS. The three-dimensional numerical models of the unreinforced soil embankment and reinforced embankment are formulated and the subgrade’s ultimate bearing capacity is calculated and solved by the elastoplastic finite element method. Effects of planar and three-dimensional reinforcement, i.e., geotextile and geocell, on the ultimate bearing capacity of the foundation are calculated and analysed. Simultaneously, the strength and deformation characteristics of geocells and geotextiles under embankment loads are studied. Research results show that the enhanced bearing capacity of geocell-reinforced foundation in this paper is increased by about 30%, which is greater than that of the planar reinforced material. This research results in this paper provide reference and theoretical basis for designing and analysing geocell-reinforced embankment in actual engineering practices.