Abstract
This paper present the effect of a new invention of scrap tyre mat (8R-Mat) inclusion on the bearing capacity, settlement and stability of a rigid strip footing constructed on a riverbank slope. An 8R-Mat reinforced riverbank will be modelled and analyzed for the effect of inclusion of 8R-Mat by Finite Element Method (FEM) using Plaxis. 8R-Mat is a new invention of reinforcing mat fabricated from scrap tyres. It can be served as reinforcement, filtration, separation, drainage and barrier at the same time. A broad series of conditions, including unreinforced cases, was analyzed by varying parameters such as angle of slope, number of 8R-Mat layers, length of 8R-Mat and water level of river using Plaxis. The results were then analyzed to find both qualitative and quantitative relationships between the bearing capacity, settlement and stability with the parameters. The results show that the bearing capacity and settlement of rigid strip footing can be intensively improved by the inclusion of 8R-Mat in the ground, and the magnitude of bearing capacity and settlement depend greatly on the angle of slope. It is also shown that the bearing capacity and settlement of the rigid footing can be considerably improved depend on the configuration in the ground. Increase of water level generally reduces the bearing capacity and safety factor but increase settlement of the rigid footing. Improvement of safety factor of the riverbank is considered negligible with the inclusion of 8R-Mat in the slope.
