Influence of key parameters on geocell performance: a review of laboratory investigations

Geocell reinforcement has emerged as a promising ground improvement technique for enhancing the load-bearing capacity and deformation characteristics of soils with weak properties. This paper critically reviews laboratory investigations on geocell reinforcement, consolidating findings on the influence of geocell geometry, infill properties, subgrade conditions, and geosynthetic material characteristics. The analysis highlights consistent trends, such as an optimum geocell mattress width of 4–6B (where B is the footing width), an optimum height of 1.5–2B, an embedment depth between 0.1–0.33B, and pocket sizes of 0.8–1B. Laboratory studies report a settlement reduction of 30–60% and bearing capacity improvements of up to three times with multi-layer geocells. A comparative evaluation of infill materials reveals that dense granular soils consistently outperform cohesive soils, while circular pockets are more effective than elliptical or hexagonal shapes. Despite these advances, challenges remain in addressing seam strength failure, scale effects, and variability in infill properties. The review identifies critical research needs in field-scale validation of laboratory results, assessment of long-term durability, performance under cyclic and dynamic loading, and the potential integration of sustainable and sensor-embedded geocells. This focused synthesis provides structured insights to guide design practice and future research.