Loading Rate-based Direct Shear Tests of Geogrid-reinforced Sands

Abstract

In order to investigate the reinforcing mechanism of geogridreinforced sands considering loading rate, a set of large direct shear tests were conducted under the condition of different normal stresses with different shearing rates. There were 3 different shearing rates to be adopted in the tests, 2 mm/min, 0.2 mm/min and 0.02 mm/min. It is found that the shearing strength of reinforced sands increases along with the increasing of normal stress under constant shearing rate loading. The shear displacement shows positive correlation with normal stress when the shear stress reaches the peak value. As only shearing rate changed, the curves of shear stress and shear displacement almost keep consistent and the peak values of shear stress are nearly same while the shear stress does not reach the peak value. Besides, the relative density of sands has a significant effect on the shearing deformation and strength characteristics of geogrid-reinforced sands.