Field Experimental Study on Interaction Coefficients of Geosynthetic Strips Embedded in Sand Randomly Mixed with Steel Fiber

It is well acknowledged that one of the most crucial characteristics for preserving internal stability during and after the construction of mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) is pull-out resistance between geosynthetic reinforcing components and backfill soil. Typically, for the rigid reinforcing materials like steel rods and metallic sheets may have their pull-out resistance which can be directly estimated. Wherein for geosynthetic materials are considered to be flexible and hence, the pull-out resistance could not be measured directly. Using a coefficient of friction, such as tan (δ), where δ is the angle of internal friction, it is possible to compute and analyze the pull-out resistance. However, it has been proved complex to measure the friction coefficient, tan (δ), for geosynthetic reinforcing elements owing to their flexible nature. Numerous academic studies from all over the world have made many attempts to examine the precise behavior and interaction between reinforcing elements and backfill utilizing pull-out parameters in response to this challenge, and efforts are being made to suggest a practical solution. This study aims to investigate the sand-embedded pull-out resistance of various geosynthetic reinforcing materials. The experimentation was done using an in-house fabricated pull-out testing apparatus. Sand was employed in this investigation as a backfill. Additionally, the pull-out resistance in conjunction with a number of reinforcing elements placed in backfill (sand) was also assessed using a random distribution of steel fibers. In this investigation, model embankments were constructed and used to perform the field pull-out tests. The field test results were analyzed and compared to those produced by using conventional sand alone using the pull-out design factors viz., pull-out resistance factor (F*) and scale effect correction factor (α). With reference to the pull-out tests conducted on sand admixed with a random distribution of steel fibers, the F* and α values of geogrid is significantly greater than those of geotextiles due to the better confinement of sand particles within the grid structure. These higher values have been indicated that the sand has adequate resistance for pull-out.