Interfacial properties of geocell-reinforced granular soils

Abstract

To provide an accurate response of Geocells under pull-out conditions such as what happened in retained backfills, interfacial characteristics of Geocell-backfill are required. A series of direct shear tests was carried out to investigate influence of soil physical properties on interfacial properties of Geocell-reinforced granular soils. Variable parameters encompass poorly graded coarse-grained soils with different medium particles sizes (3, 6 and 12 mm), different normal stresses (100, 200 and 300 kPa) and different relative densities (50 and 70%). To compare the developed strength of the shear plane, in unreinforced and Geocell-reinforced statuses, shear characteristics mobilized at the shear plane including friction angle, dilation angle and apparent cohesion have been evaluated. The results indicated improvement of the interface's shear strength characteristics due to the presence of Geocell. The shear strength in the Geocell-soil interface was increased by increasing the medium grain size and relative density of the soil. From the obtained results, for coarse aggregates (cell aspect ratio-ratio of Geocell's cells diameter (b) to the medium grains size (D50)- smaller than 8.5), Geocell reinforcement was two times, at least, more successful than compaction effort, in improving shear characteristics of the unreinforced medium dense fill materials. It has been recommended using Geocells in environments with low normal stress and coarse aggregates. Furthermore, the results clarify that Geocell with cell aspect ratio equal to 4, has the best performance in improvement of interface's shear strength.