A Modified Soil-Geosynthetic Interactive Performance Test for Evaluating Deformation Behavior of GRS Structures

Abstract

Abstract A modified Soil-Geosynthetic Interactive Performance (SGIP) test apparatus for evaluating short- and long-term deformation behavior of soil-geosynthetic composites was developed. In the test, a specimen of soil-geosynthetic composite, with dimensions of 305 mm wide, 605 mm long, and 305 mm high, was subjected to a vertical sustained load under plane strain condition. The applied load was transferred from the soil to the geosynthetic, and it allowed the soil and geosynthetic to deform in an interactive manner. Lateral and vertical displacements of the test specimen and strains in the reinforcement were measured. A series of the soil-geosynthetic performance tests were conducted to examine test repeatability, failure mode, and deformation behavior of different soil-geosynthetic composites. Test results and discussion of test results are presented. The applicability of the performance test to actual GRS structures was examined by comparing test results with measured behavior of a 5.4-m high GRS pier.