Full scale test embankments with geotextile reinforcement on soft Bangkok clay

Three full scale test embankments were constructed at a rapid rate to failure on soft Bangkok clay. One of the embankments was unreinforced to serve as a control. The second embankment was reinforced with a multi layer reinforced system consisting four layers nonwoven geotextiles of low stiffness modulus property. The third embankment was reinforced with a high strength nonwoven geotextile at the base of the embankment. The embankments were constructed using low quality clayey sand and were fully instrumented to evaluate their performance. The results of this investigation are presented in this report which confirmed the presence of soil/geotextile composite behaviour particularly in the case of the multi layer reinforced system. Under the same backfill and foundation soil conditions, the analysis of the results indicated that the multi layer reinforced system increased the height of embankment by at least 12.5%. As for the single high strength nonwoven geotextile, an increased in the height of embankment of about 50% was recorded.