Efecto de geosintéticos sobre la capacidad portante de suelos blandos bajo cimentaciones superficiales.

Abstract

This study experimentally investigated the influence of different geosynthetic reinforcements, including woven geotextiles, nonwoven geotextiles, and biaxial PET geogrids, on the mechanical response of a representative Bogotá soil subjected to concentrated loading conditions simulating shallow foundations. The research began with a comprehensive geotechnical characterization of the soil through determination of natural moisture content, particle-size distribution, hydrometer analysis, Atterberg limits, and Standard Proctor compaction tests. These laboratory procedures established the fundamental engineering properties of the material and defined the conditions for specimen preparation. A comparative physical modeling program was subsequently conducted using a rigid steel test chamber in combination with a universal testing machine. Unreinforced specimens and specimens reinforced with different geosynthetic materials were tested under the same compaction and loading conditions, allowing direct evaluation of the contribution of each reinforcement system to soil behavior. The characterization results classified the material as a predominantly sandy silty colluvial-alluvial soil with low plasticity and a maximum dry density of 1.68 g/cm³. The experimental program demonstrated that the incorporation of geosynthetics modified the load–settlement response and relative bearing capacity of the soil, with distinct levels of improvement depending on the reinforcement type. These findings provide experimental support for the use of geosynthetic reinforcement in shallow foundation applications and contribute to the understanding of ground improvement strategies for soft soils characteristic of the Bogotá Savannah.