Pullout and Direct Shear Testing of Geosynthetic Reinforcement: State-of-the-Art Report

Abstract

The frictional characteristics of a soil-geosynthetic interface can be determined by direct shear and pullout tests. The direct shear test is commonly conducted according to ASTM standard D5321. However, at present there is no ASTM method for pullout testing of geosynthetics. During the past 10 years different researchers have obtained a wealth of information from direct shear and pullout tests of geosynthetics. A critical analysis of direct shear and pullout tests and an evaluation of the effects of fundamental material and testing parameters on test results are presented.