Reinforced soil is composite material which is formed by the associating of frictional soil and tension resistant elements in the form of sheets, strips, nets or mats of metal, synthetic fabrics or fibre reinforced plastics and arranged in the soil mass in such a way as to reduce or supress the tensile strain which night develop under gravity and boundary forces. It is well known that most granwar soils are strong in compression and shear and weak in tension. The performance of such soils can be improved by introducing reinforcing elements in the direction of tensile straine in the same way as in reinforced concrete.
The variety and range of application of reinforced soil is unlimited severs field applications include retaining walls, abutments, away walls, embankments dams, hill roads, housing, foundations, railways, industry, pipe works, waterway structure and under ground structures.
The soil reinforcement technique results in
(i) a simple , composite material, quick and easy to make
(ii) a flexible material, able to withstand important deformation without damage.
(iii) A heavy material both from the technical and architectural paint of view and
(iv) An economical material.
These merits of reinforced soil enabled its use in almost all civil engineering structures.