Experimental study on the interface characteristics of geogrid-reinforced gravelly soil based on pull-out tests

• Published in: Scientific reports 2024-04, Vol.14 (1), p.8669-8669, Article 8669
• Main Authors: Liu, Jie, Pan, Jiadong, Liu, Qi, Xu, Yan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 639/166/986; 639/33/445/431; Civil engineering; Coarse-grained soil; Design; Discrete element method; Geogrid reinforcement; Geogrid–soil interaction; Humanities and Social Sciences; Interface parameters; Interfaces; Moisture content; multidisciplinary; Numerical analysis; Parameters; Pull-out tests; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Shear strength; Shear tests; Soil structure; Soils; Tensile strength; Velocity; Water content; Waterproofing
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-59297-9

The factors influencing geogrid–soil interface characteristics are critical design parameters in some geotechnical designs. This study describes pull-out tests performed on gravelly soils commonly encountered in the Xinjiang region and reinforced with two types of geogrids. The factors affecting the geogrid–gravelly soil interface properties are investigated with different experimental loading methods (pull-out velocity, normal stress), geogrid types, and soil particle size distributions and water contents. The ultimate pull-out force increases with the normal stress and pull-out velocity. Furthermore, with increasing coarse particle content and water content, the ultimate pull-out force increases and then decreases sharply. Based on these research results, this paper provides reasonable parameters and recommendations for the design and pull-out testing of reinforced soil in engineering structures. In reinforced soil structure design, the grid depth should be increased appropriately, and the coarse particle content of the overlying soil should be between 30 and 40%. During construction, the gravelly soil should be compacted to the maximum compaction at the optimal water content, and the structure should have a reasonable waterproofing system. According to the calculation results of the interface strength parameters, the uniaxial geogrid–gravelly soil interface has a high cohesive force c sg , which should not be ignored in reinforced soil structure design.