Creep Behavior of Recycled Plastic Lumber in Slope Stabilization Applications

Abstract

Slender recycled plastic pins (RPPs) can be used to stabilize earthen slopes by driving the RPPs into the face of the slope to intercept the sliding surface and “pin” the slope. The RPPs will be subjected to lateral (bending) forces, and their ability to resist deformation will strongly influence the success of the RPPs for stabilizing slopes. Arrhenius modeling was used to predict the time for the RPPs to reach creep failure. Engineering properties and strain rate effect of four different types of RPPs were evaluated and are reported in this paper. Arrhenius modeling showed creep failure ranged from 50to3,900years at field temperature and stress levels. Compressive strengths ranged from 11to20MPa and compressive moduli from 580to1,280MPa at 1% strain, while flexural strengths ranged from 9to25MPa and flexural moduli from 620to1675MPa at 1% strain.