A parking lot extension on a clay-rich fill near Lady Bird Lake required a cost-effective alternative to deep foundations. We designed a geocell system to distribute loads over the soft subgrade, using 200 mm tall cells filled with local crushed limestone. The cellular confinement increased the bearing capacity from 40 kPa to over 150 kPa in just two weeks of monitoring. Before starting, we ran a densidad cono de arena test on site to verify compaction levels, and a pavement evaluation to confirm the existing base thickness. The result was a stable, vegetated surface that handled heavy truck traffic without rutting.
Geocell systems in Austin's expansive clays reduce lateral spreading by up to 70% when combined with proper drainage and compaction control.