Stress-strain behavior of geotextile: A proposed new indirect calculation using the static puncture test (CBR test)

Some of the main applications of geosynthetics include use as a hydraulic barrier in sanitary landfills, as a reinforcement element and in pavement engineering. In most cases, these materials are subject to the overlapping effects of tensile strength and puncture. This paper presents a review of indirect methods for calculation of stress and strain averages by means of the California Bearing Ratio (CBR) puncture strength test. In addition, a new calculation method is proposed based on the Kirchhoff plate theory, which interprets the behavior of thin circular plates subjected to a uniform normal loading. This new method enables analysis of the stress-strain in each stretch of the geosynthetic. The methodology is applied to four woven geotextiles of different weights. The results of the new calculation method yielded a better stress-strain correlation with direct tensile strength tests, presenting the smallest relative errors compared to the other indirect calculations reviewed. With the aid of a disk and pins, vertical displacement values at different points in the geotextiles were measured and showed good agreement with analytical predictions. Therefore, the static puncture test combined with the new proposed calculation method is a good alternative for determining the stress-strain parameters of geotextile.