This study presents the results of five reinforced concrete (RC) pile specimens that were created and horizontally loaded. The RC piles were reinforced by composite materials such as geogrid, geogrid with a core of steel rod, and geogrid with a core of glass fibre reinforced polymers (GFRP) or carbon fiber reinforced polymers (CFRP) rod. This research is expected to investigate the behavior of using composite materials in pile reinforcement and check their efficiency in carrying horizontal loads. The horizontal pile loading test was applied to four pile specimens and a reference pile specimen reinforced by steel rods. All specimens have the same dimensions (150 mm in diameter and 1050 mm in height). A comparison has been carried out between the experimental results for all specimens and the reference specimen. The experimental results illustrated that the specimens carried a lower ultimate horizontal load by 44%–87% compared to the reference specimen. Also, a non-linear finite element analysis has been verified by Abaqus software and achieved a great degree of reconciliation compared to the experimental results. Finally, a comparison of the reinforcement costs for the specimens revealed that utilizing these composite piles could reduce the cost up to 15.2%.

This paper introduces the results of eleven lateral pile loading tests performed on concrete piles reinforced with different materials such as FRP bars, geosynthetics geogrids, and composite of two materials to check their efficiency in carrying the lateral load. The lateral loading pile test was applied on three groups consisting of ten reinforced concrete pile specimens, and control concrete pile specimen reinforced by steel bars. All samples have the same dimensions (150 mm diameter x 1050 mm length). This research assumed that the pile was placed in a very soft clay soil and rested on a crushed stone layer, so the frictional effect of the soil was neglected. A comparison has been carried out between experimental results for all samples. The experimental results illustrated that the lateral loads carried by piles were increased up to 25.3% by using FRP bars, biaxial geogrid, and uniaxial geogrid. Moreover, a non-linear finite element analysis was verified by Abaqus standard software and achieved a great rapprochement with the experimental results. Finally, a comparison was carried out between the reinforcement cost for all samples, which showed that using these composite piles decreased its cost up to 59%.

This study investigates the influence of biaxial geogrids on the flexural behavior of square footing foundations reinforced with glass fiber reinforced concrete (GFRC). Experimental research is conducted, involving the testing of five reinforced concrete square footings under area loading until failure. The variables considered are the number of geogrid layers and the percentage of longitudinal reinforcement. Various parameters including deflection, loads at each stage, stiffness, ductility, energy absorption, crack patterns, as well as strains in steel, concrete, and geogrid, are analyzed and compared. The results reveal that incorporating geogrid layers as a reinforcement technique with GFRC significantly enhances the flexural behavior of the footings and improves cracking patterns. The number of geogrid layers used in the footings substantially increases the loads at each stage. Furthermore, an empirical equation is developed to establish a correlation between the moment acting on the footings and the tensile strength of geogrid reinforcement. The empirical evidence demonstrates a substantial improvement in the strength resistance of geogrid-reinforced footings with GFRC, surpassing those reinforced with steel and normal concrete mix. This research contributes valuable insights for the design and construction of earth structures, highlighting the advantages of biaxial geogrids in reinforcing GFRC footings with enhanced flexural performance.