## 4 Experiment Methodology
### Box Model Test  
Four model cases or material sets were used in this experiment to investigate the bearing capacity. Each case had a height of 500 mm, a width of 500 mm, and a length of 1500 mm. Figure 8 and Table 6 show the description and condition for each case. Case 1 involved a full height, and NMC clayey soil. The clay was placed inside the specimen box and subjected to 10 kPa compaction (approximately equivalent to the pressure of a 50 kg human's foot stamp). Case 1 obtained a unit weight of 17.02 kN/m\({}^{3}\). Case 2 examined dense sand. The dense sand used in this experiment was simulated to have a relative density of 90%. Thus, the falling height of the sand was maintained at 80 cm. The unit weight for Case 2 was 15.49 kN/m\({}^{3}\). Case 3 was composed of four layers--alternately, NMC clays and crushed gravel. The first layer was the NMC clay, which was subjected to 10 kPa manual foot compaction. The second layer was crushed gravel placed directly in the box without compaction. The third layer was another one of NMC clay, again subjected to 10 kPa manual foot compaction. The last, or top, layer was another layer of crushed gravel placed directly in the box without compaction. Case 3 had a unit weight of 16.56 kN/m\({}^{3}\). Lastly, Case 4 was very similar to Case 3 but with an additional three sheets of composite geotextiles placed between the layers of NMC clays and the crushed gravel. Case 4 obtained a unit weight of 15.76 kN/m\({}^{3}\). \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c c c c c c c} \hline \hline \multicolumn{2}{c}{**Parameters**} & **Case 1** & **Case 2** & **Case 3** & **Case 4** & **Case 5** & **Case 6** & **Case 7** & **Case 8** \\ \hline \multirow{2}{*}{Clay} & OMC 1  & - & \(\checkmark\) & - & - & - & - & - \\ \cline{2-9}  & NMC 2  & \(\checkmark\) & - & - & \(\checkmark\) & \(\checkmark\) & \(\checkmark\) & \(\checkmark\) \\ \hline \multirow{2}{*}{Sand} & Loose & - & - & \(\checkmark\) & - & - & - & - & - \\ \cline{2-9}  & Dense & - & - & - & \(\checkmark\) & - & - & - & - \\ \hline \multirow{2}{*}{Crushed} & Gravel & \multirow{2}{*}{-} & \multirow{2}{*}{-} & \multirow{2}{*}{-} & \multirow{2}{*}{-} & \multirow{2}{*}{-} & \multirow{2}{*}{-} & \multirow{2}{*}{-} & \multirow{2}{*}{-} & \multirow{2}{*}{\(\checkmark\)} \\  & No. 1 & & & & & & & & \\ \hline \multirow{2}{*}{No. of Composite} & \multirow{2}{*}{-} & \multirow{2}{*}{-} & \multirow{2}{*}{-} & \multirow{2}{*}{-} & \multirow{2}{*}{-} & \multirow{2}{*}{3} & \multirow{2}{*}{3} & \multirow{2}{*}{4} \\  & Geotextile Layers & & & & & & & & \\ \hline \multirow{2}{*}{Compaction} & manual & 4.5 kgs & \multirow{2}{*}{none} & rubber & manual & manual & manual & manual \\  & surface & rammer & & & & & surface & surface \\ \cline{1-1}  & vibration & (55 blows) & & & (side) & vibration & vibration & vibration \\ \hline \multirow{2}{*}{Unit Weight, \(\checkmark\)} & \multirow{2}{*}{17.6} & \multirow{2}{*}{20.5} & \multirow{2}{*}{13.5} & \multirow{2}{*}{15.7} & \multirow{2}{*}{17.3} & \multirow{2}{*}{16.1} & \multirow{2}{*}{17.1} & \multirow{2}{*}{15.9} \\  & & & & & & & & \\ \end{tabular}
\end{table} 
Table 5: Specifications of Mold Test Sample Cases. Figure 7: The sectional view of the mold test sample cases; (**a**) Case 1; (**b**) Case 2; (**c**) Case 3; (**d**) Case 4; (**e**) Case 5; (**f**) Case 6; (**g**) Case 7; and (**h**) Case 8. At the start of the experiment, all the materials and equipment were prepared, including the six Linear Variable Differential Transducers (LVDTs), one soil pressure gauge, two dial gauges, one load cell, a data logger, a laptop, and a 30 by 30 cm by 15 mm thick steel loading plate. First, the load cell was attached to the loading system and connected to the data logger. The soil pressure gauge was installed at the bottom-center of the specimen box before the foundation was placed. The foundation, composed of a 50 mm thick layer of sand, was placed and compacted at the bottom of the specimen box.