Experimental Evaluation of Geocoir Cell-Reinforced Sand Beds with Different Infill Materials

Abstract

Exploring sustainable alternatives to polymeric materials for reinforcement applications has gained considerable momentum in recent years. This research explores the use of locally sourced, bio-based materials, specifically geocoir cell mattresses and coconut shell infills, to offer eco-friendly and cost-effective reinforcement solutions. The methodology involves conducting model plate load tests on sand beds, both unreinforced and reinforced with geocoir cell mattresses filled with either coconut shell pieces or sand. The primary objective is to evaluate the load-settlement behaviour and load-bearing capacity of these reinforced beds. The study demonstrates that geocoir cell-reinforced sand beds, when filled with coconut shell pieces, exhibit significantly enhanced load-settlement behaviour compared to traditional sand infill. The results indicate that coconut shell infill increases load-bearing capacity by up to 4.98 times and reduces settlement by 88%. These findings demonstrate the potential of geocoir cells and coconut shells as eco-friendly, cost-effective alternatives for soil reinforcement in construction. The benefit of this study is understanding performance benefits of geocoir cell with coconut shell infill and utilizing such material in for reinforcement applications reduce the reliance on synthetic polymers and enhance the geotechnical performance in terms of extending the service life and minimizing the maintenance costs. © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2025.