Horizontal stiffness evaluation of geogrid-stabilized aggregate using shear wave transducers

Lateral restraint resulting from the interlock between geogrid and aggregate is recognized as a primary mechanism governing the load-bearing behavior of a geogrid-stabilized pavement base course. However, the level of geogrid–aggregate interlock and the local stiffness enhancement due to the lateral restraint has not been adequately quantified. In this paper, a new experimental method is proposed to evaluate the stiffness enhancement provided by the interlock of the geogrid–aggregate composite system using shear wave transducers. Repeated load triaxial tests were conducted to determine the resilient modulus and deformation characteristics of both geogrid-stabilized and unstabilized base course aggregates. The stabilized test specimens were evaluated for two geogrid types with rectangular and triangular apertures. For the shear wave measurements, three pairs of bender elements fixed at each mounting base were installed diametrically on the triaxial test specimens at three different locations above the mid-height level, where the horizontal shear modulus profiles of the geogrid-stabilized and unstabilized specimens were determined. The experimental results indicate that the shear modulus profiles obtained as a function of confinement changed significantly based on the geogrid inclusion and type, whereas there were no considerable changes in the resilient moduli from the different specimens, as they were only influenced by the applied stress states. The shear moduli estimated in the vicinity of the geogrid were greater than those at locations farther away from the geogrid, which was installed at the mid-height of the specimen. The shear modulus profiles varied according to the confining stress, and the shear modulus ratio of the stabilized to unstabilized specimens clearly demonstrated the stiffness enhancement provided by the two different geogrids. Accordingly, the shear modulus profiles estimated from the horizontal shear wave measurements of the bender element can be effectively used to determine the mechanically stabilized layer characteristics of a geogrid, and therefore quantify the local stiffness enhancement provided by the geogrid–aggregate interlock.     

考虑变围压因素的饱和软黏土循环纯压动力特性

饱和土体的动力特性表现出对应力路径的依赖性。越来越多基于变围压动三轴的试验结果表明：循环围压应力路径对砂土等颗粒材料的变形和回弹特性存在较大的影响。基于变围压动三轴试验,通过循环偏应力与循环围压的耦合模拟真实交通荷载下竖向循环正应力与水平循环正应力的耦合,研究了循环围压对饱和软黏土孔压、永久和回弹变形的影响。试验结果表明：在不排水条件下,与常规恒定围压动三轴试验结果相比,循环围压的存在较大程度地改变了孔压的发展规律,减少了永久变形的累积速度,同时增加了回弹变形（即减少了回弹模量）;循环围压幅值与循环偏应力幅值的比值（RPD）越大,永久应变的减少值与回弹应变的增加值越大;并进一步建立了考虑循环围压因素的饱和软黏土永久沉降和回弹模量预测模型。     

Displacement and load transfer mechanisms of geogrids under pullout condition

Reinforcing elements embedded within soil mass improve stabilization through a load transfer mechanism between the soil and the reinforcement. Geogrids are a type of geosynthetic frequently used for soil reinforcement, consisting of equally spaced longitudinal and transverse ribs. Under pullout conditions, the longitudinal ribs are responsible for tensile resistance, while transverse ribs contribute to a passive resistance. This paper describes a new analytical model capable of reproducing both load transfer and displacement mechanisms on the geogrid length, under pullout conditions. The model subdivides the geogrid into rheological units, composed by friction/adhesion and spring elements, mounted in line. Friction/adhesion elements respond to the shear component mobilized at the soil–geogrid interface. Spring elements respond to the geogrid's tensile elongation. Model parameters are obtained through tensile strength tests on geogrids and conventional direct shear tests on soil specimens. The need for instrumented pullout tests becomes therefore eliminated. Results predicted from this new model were compared to instrumented pullout test data from two types of geogrids, under various confining stress levels. The results revealed that the new model is capable of reasonably predicting load and displacement distributions along the geogrid.     

Mechanically reinforced granular shoulders on soft subgrade: Laboratory and full scale studies

A recently completed field study in Iowa showed that many granular shoulders overlie clayey subgrade layer with California Bearing Ratio (CBR) value of 10 or less. When subjected to repeated traffic loads, some of these sections develop considerable rutting. Due to costly recurring maintenance and safety concerns, the authors evaluated the use of biaxial geogrids in stabilizing a severely rutted 310 m tests section supported on soft subgrade soils. Monitoring the test section for about one year, demonstrated the application of geogrid as a relatively simple method for improving the shoulder performance. The field test was supplemented with a laboratory testing program, where cyclic loading was used to study the performance of nine granular shoulder models. Each laboratory model simulated a granular shoulder supported on soft subgrade with geogrid reinforcement at the interface between both layers. Based on the research findings, a design chart correlating rut depth and number of load cycles to subgrade CBR was developed. The chart was verified by field and laboratory measurements and used to optimize the granular shoulder design parameters and better predict the performance of granular shoulders.     

Effect of geogrid-reinforcement in granular bases under repeated loading

The thickness of the base plays a crucial role in the stability of pavements and the lack of availability of good quality aggregates is a major concern in India and other countries. Loading on top of the base plays a crucial role in the design of pavements. Usually, the design of the pavement is done for standard axle load, however, in the field, in some of the cases, the vehicles are overloaded which results in a higher wheel load on the pavements. The current paper examines the performance of geogrid reinforced unpaved sections at higher stresses with the primary objective of reducing the thickness of base layer required in the field. Experimental studies were carried out using repeated plate load tests to obtain the optimum depth of placing the geogrid in granular base layer to achieve maximum reduction in rutting of pavement. Resilient deformation behavior of both reinforced and unreinforced sections are obtained and these values are utilized to predict the resilient modulus of the base sections. The paper also discusses the reduction in permanent deformation by the introduction of geogrid. Rut depth reduction studies were carried out in order to compare the performance of reinforced and unreinforced sections. The role played by the reinforcement in reducing the strains on top of the subgrade is studied in detail. A comparison is also carried out to understand the pressure distribution along the base layer and role played by the geogrids in reducing the pressure on the subgrade. Further, values of stress distribution angles were obtained for reinforced and unreinforced sections. It is evident from the studies that geogrids contributed to improved performance as well as reduction in thickness of the aggregate layer.     

Experimental investigation on the accumulated strain of coarse-grained soil reinforced by geogrid under high-cycle cyclic loading

In this study, a series of cyclic triaxial tests were conducted to study the accumulated strain of coarse-grained soil reinforced with geogrids, and the effect of the number of geogrid layers, confining pressure and cyclic stress amplitude was investigated in detail. The test results show that the final accumulated axial strain of the soils reinforced with geogrids is less than that without reinforcement, and less accumulated axial strain is generated for the specimens with more geogrid layers under identical cyclic loading. The results also show that a higher confining pressure or a lower cyclic stress amplitude yields less accumulated axial strain for the reinforced soils. Furthermore, the plastic shakedown limits are determined by the criterion proposed by Chen et al. It indicates that the plastic shakedown limit increases significantly when one layer of geogrid is incorporated into the specimen and then tends to level off with a continuous increase in the number of geogrid layers. Moreover, a higher confining pressure yields a higher plastic shakedown limit for the soils reinforced with geogrid. The results demonstrated that the use of geogrid can be an effective method to reduce the accumulated deformation of subgrade filling materials under high-cycle traffic loading.     

Effect of shearing rate on the behavior of geogrid-reinforced railroad ballast under direct shear conditions

A series of large-scale direct shear tests were conducted to investigate the behavior of unreinforced and geogrid-reinforced ballast at different rates of shearing. Fresh granite ballast with an average particle size (D₅₀) of 42?mm and five geogrids having different aperture shapes and sizes was used in this study. Tests were performed at different normal stresses (σ_n) ranging from 35?kPa to 140?kPa and at different rates of shearing (S_r) ranging from 2.5 to 10.0?mm/min. The laboratory test results revealed that the shear strength of ballast was significantly influenced by the rate of shearing. The internal friction angle of ballast (φ) was found to decrease from 66.5° to 58° when the shearing rate (S_r) was increased from 2.5 to 10.0?mm/min. It is further observed that the interface shear strength has improved significantly when the ballast was reinforced with geogrids. The interface efficiency factor (α), defined as the ratio of the shear strength of the interface to the internal shear strength of ballast, varies from 0.83 to 1.06. The sieve analysis of samples after the testing reveals that a significant amount of particle breakage occurs during shearing. The value of breakage, evaluated in terms of Marsal's breakage index (B_g), increases from 5.12 to 13.24% with an increase in shearing rates from 2.5 to 10.0?mm/min. Moreover, the influence of aperture shape and size of geogrid on the behavior of ballast-geogrid interfaces was also examined in this study.     

The effect of geogrid reinforcement on unbound aggregates

Improvement of track, highway and runway unbound aggregate behaviour using geogrids is researched. Geogrid reinforcement into unbound aggregate in most cases will improve the performance of the unbound aggregate portion of a transportation support. Unfortunately, the optimal location and number of geogrid layers have not been established. Presented are experimental results for three different construction possibilities of geogrid reinforcement in the unbound aggregate layers. The aggregate layers were subject to both repeated loading and static loading. The advantages of the different construction methods are studied and field applications are discussed. Finally, conclusions are made regarding the optimal position of the geogrid reinforcement.     

Crushed rocks stabilized with organosilane and lignosulfonate in pavement unbound layers: Repeated load triaxial tests

The creation of the new “Ferry-Free Coastal Highway Route E39” in southwest Norway entails the production of a remarkable quantity of crushed rocks. These resources could be beneficially employed as aggregates in the unbound courses of the highway itself or other road pavements present nearby. Two innovative stabilizing agents, organosilane and lignosulfonate, can significantly enhance the key properties, namely, resilient modulus and resistance against permanent deformation, of the aggregates that are excessively weak in their natural state. The beneficial effect offered by the additives was thoroughly evaluated by performing repeated load triaxial tests. The study adopted the most common numerical models to describe these two key mechanical properties. The increase in the resilient modulus and reduction in the accumulated vertical permanent deformation show the beneficial impact of the additives. Furthermore, a finite element model was created to simulate the repeated load triaxial test by implementing nonlinear elastic and plastic constitutive relationships.     

土工格栅界面摩擦特性试验研究

土工格栅与土的界面作用特性直接影响着加筋土挡墙的安全与稳定性。因此,土工格栅与填料的界面技术指标在加筋土挡墙的设计中至关重要。本文在从试验方法、加载方式、试验箱侧壁边界效应和尺寸效应、填料厚度、压实度以及筋材夹持状况等几方面分析土工格栅界面摩擦特性影响因素基础上,进行了土工格栅在砂砾料和粘性土中的拉拔试验和直剪试验。试验结果表明:土工格栅与砂砾料接触面抗剪强度较高,而与粘土接触面抗剪强度很低;对于加筋土挡墙拉拔力较大的层位,应选用刚度大的土工格栅和砂砾料为填料。直剪摩擦试验不适合确定土工格栅接触面的抗剪强度。该试验结果对土工格栅加筋土挡土墙的设计具有重要的参考价值。     

Local stiffness characteristic of geogrid-stabilized aggregate in relation to accumulated permanent deformation behavior

Accumulated permanent deformation is the primary source of damage in a pavement unbound aggregate base layer. Mechanical stabilization with the help of a geogrid installed in unbound aggregate base provides lateral restraint to the flexible pavement, however, the local stiffness characteristic of geogrid-stabilized aggregate in relation to permanent deformation behavior is not clearly known. This study presents variations in shear modulus properties of geogrid-stabilized and unstabilized aggregate specimens in relation to permanent deformation accumulation. To characterize the local stiffnesses near and far away from geogrid, two pairs of bender elements were inserted in triaxial specimens as shear wave transducers. With the number of load cycles, the variations in the shear wave velocities at two different specimen heights were monitored. The test results show that, after the specimen preparation, the shear modulus near the geogrid was greater than that far away from the geogrid. Further, the shear modulus estimated at both levels of unstabilized specimen was similar to that estimated far away from geogrid in the mechanically stabilized specimen. This study demonstrates that the local stiffness of aggregate can be monitored by using the bender elements in relation to trends in permanent deformation behavior, and suggests the bender element systems can be effectively used to validate the benefits of geogrid stabilization by quantifying local stiffnesses at various levels of accumulated permanent deformation.     

Behavior evaluation of geogrid-reinforced ballast-subballast interface under shear condition

The effective functioning of a railway track under operating conditions depends largely on the performance of various rail track interfaces (e.g. ballast-subballast interface, subballast-subgrade interface). In this context, a series of large-scale direct shear tests were conducted to investigate the shear behavior of unreinforced and geogrid-reinforced ballast-subballast interfaces at different normal stresses (σ_n) and rates of shearing (S_r). Fresh granite ballast and subballast having average particle size (D₅₀) of 42?mm and 3.5?mm respectively, and five geogrids with different aperture shapes and sizes were used in this study. Tests were performed at different normal stresses (σ_n) ranging from 20 to 100?kPa and shearing rates (S_r) ranging from 2.5 to 10.0?mm/min. The laboratory test results confirmed that the shear strength of ballast-subballast interface was highly influenced by the applied normal stress (σ_n) and rate of shearing (S_r). The friction angle (φ) of unreinforced ballast-subballast interface was found to decrease from 63.24° to 47.82° and dilation angle (ψ) from 14.56° to 5.23° as the values of σ_n and S_r increased from 20 to 100?kPa and 2.5–10.0?mm/min, respectively. Further, the breakage of ballast (B_g) was found to increase from 2.84 to 6.69%. However, geogrid inclusions enhanced the shear strength of the ballast-subballast interface and also reduced the extent of B_g. The results indicate that it is possible to establish a relationship between the friction angle (φ) and breakage of ballast (B_g), wherein the friction angle (φ) of both unreinforced and geogrid-reinforced interfaces reduces with the increase in breakage (B_g). The interface efficiency factor, defined as the ratio of the shear strength of the geogrid-reinforced ballast-subballast interface to the original shear strength of ballast-subballast interface varies from 1.04 to 1.22. Moreover, the current study revealed that the shear behavior of ballast-subballast interface was influenced by geogrid aperture size (A).     

经编和玻纤格栅加筋粘性土的三轴试验研究

对经编格栅和玻纤格栅加筋粘性土进行不固结不排水的三轴压缩试验。试验结果表明,在粘性土体上布置格栅筋材,都能提高土体强度,但不同的筋材,其加筋效果是不一样的,经编格栅加筋土的加筋效果要优于玻纤格栅加筋土。加筋层数越多,加筋效果越好;随着加筋土应力增加,加筋土抵抗变形的作用才能得到更充分发挥,土体加筋效果更明显。不同筋材的加筋土,其粘聚力与内摩擦角的变化规律不一致;玻纤格栅和经编格栅加筋粘性土的加筋效果与砂土不同,不仅表现在粘聚力的增加上,还表现在内摩擦角的增加上。加强筋条结点连接的牢固性,能够提高加筋效果。     

Influence of cyclic tensile loading on pullout resistance of geogrids embedded in a compacted granular soil

This paper deals with some results of a wide experimental research carried out in order to study factors affecting cyclic and post-cyclic pullout behaviour of different geogrids embedded in a granular soil. The new test procedure developed (multistage pullout test) and the relative results are described. In particular, test results obtained using the constant rate of displacement (CRD) and the multistage pullout tests highlighted the influence of the different factors involved in the research (cyclic load amplitude and frequency, vertical confining stress, geogrid tensile stiffness and structure) both on the peak pullout resistance and on the peak apparent coefficient of friction mobilized at the interface.     

土工格栅纵横肋的筋土承载特性分析

为研究土工格栅纵横肋与砂土的界面受力特性,进行了不同法向压力的格栅拉拔试验,分别设计了横向与纵向剪除横肋的6种拉拔试验工况,研究横肋减少对格栅受力、拉拔阻力峰值和位移及似摩擦系数的影响,并分别对比了整体剪切和刺入剪切破坏模式下的格栅拉拔阻力,揭示格栅筋土界面的相互作用机理。结果表明,随着横肋的减少,格栅拉拔阻力和似摩擦系数不断地变小;横肋沿横向减少的格栅最大拉拔阻力大于横肋沿纵向减少的最大拉拔阻力,完整横肋有助于筋土界面的加筋作用的充分发挥。理论计算格栅界面摩擦力约为18%~19%的试验拉拔阻力,而试验获得的格栅界面摩擦力与试验拉拔阻力的比值为29%~33%,横肋与土体挤压咬合产生的承载力分量占了总拉拔阻力的67%~71%,横肋极大提高了土工格栅的拉拔阻力。     

Geogrid-soil interaction: A new conceptual model and testing apparatus

This paper provides a more realistic representation of the soil-geogrid interface in indirectly activated geogrids. A new testing apparatus is designed using transparent soil that allows an unobstructed observation of the interface to investigate the interaction occurring along the reinforcement. In this investigation, the reinforcement is indirectly activated by the deformations of the surrounding soil. Deformations were determined by digital image correlation (DIC) using a dot pattern attached to the geogrid and a laser speckle plane within the transparent soil. The interaction is derived from relative soil-geogrid displacements, deflections of geogrid transverse members, geogrid strain and force distributions as well as shear stresses acting at the interface. Three zones were identified corresponding to the distinct modes of interaction: pushout, pullout and interlocking, whereby a micro-mechanical conceptual model was validated. The geogrid force reaches its maximum at the intersection of the critical slip plane with the reinforcement. The results indicate that the pushout, pullout and interlocking areas cover 15%, 49% and 36% of the total geogrid length respectively. In this study, a transition area between the pushout and pullout zones was observed where the mobilised interface shear stress increases to a maximum value.     

土工格栅加筋土地基载荷试验的数值模拟

采用FALC^3D对土工格栅加筋土地基载荷试验进行了进一步的数值模拟分析。根据计算结果,针对原型试验中难以量测的试坑变形及筋土界面摩阻力分布特征进行了讨论。利用数值模拟技术的优势,求解加筋地基的应变场,研究了加筋地基的破坏模式。结果表明:在竖向荷载作用下,试坑会发生侧向位移,通过加筋能有效减小试坑的侧向位移;筋土界面摩阻力的分布与筋土之间的相对位移直接相关;加筋地基的破坏机构因筋材的存在而发生改变,“深基础”效应以及“扩散层”效应都是加筋地基的增强机理,但地基的破坏模式随筋材的布置形式改变而有所不同。     

Resilient behavior of compacted subgrade soils under the repeated triaxial test

Subgrade soils are very important materials to support highways. Resilient modulus (M_r) has been used for characterizing stress-strain behavior of subgrades subjected to repeated traffic loadings. Recently the repeated triaxial test procedure has been upgraded through AASHTO T 307. Since the testing procedure is still complex, the testing has not been widely implemented in practice. In order to evaluate resilient behavior of compacted subgrades soils, the repeated triaxial test and the unconfined compressive test as well as some fundamental property tests were conducted. In this study, the applicability of a simplified procedure with a confining pressure of 13.8 kPa and deviator stresses of 13.8, 27.6, 41.4, 55.2, 69 and 103.4 kPa was investigated on the typical sandy–silty–clay and silty–clay subgrade soils encountered in Indiana. The results obtained from the simplified procedure are comparable with those obtained from AASHTO T 307 which calls for 15 combinations of stresses. This shows the simplified procedure to be feasible and effective for design purpose. Some soils compacted wet of optimum moisture content showed an excessive permanent deformation. This phenomenon was investigated by the comparison of the unconfined compressive test and the repeated triaxial test results. For soils exhibiting excessive permanent deformation, use of deformed length is desirable for more accurate calculation of M_r. Usually the soils compacted dry of optimum shows the largest M_r for sandy–silty–clay soils due to capillary suction, but it is not necessarily true for silty–clay soils. A predictive model to estimate regression coefficients k₁, k₂, and k₃ using 11 soil variables obtained from the soil property tests and the standard Proctor compaction tests was developed. The predicted regression coefficients compare well with measured ones.     

循环荷载下土工格栅加筋铁路道床累积#br# 沉降模型试验研究

散粒体道床层的循环累积变形是有砟轨道沉降的主要来源，文章采用有砟轨道路基模型试验来研究道砟层与底砟层间布置土工格栅加固道床控制有砟轨道沉降，开展了高速和重载等不同列车荷载下与不同类型土工格栅加固条件下的多组循环加载试验，加载过程中全程监测道砟层累积沉降、轨枕振动、道砟层底部土压力与土工格栅应变数据并进行分析，以研究土工格栅控制有砟轨道道床沉降的作用机理。研究结果表明：土工格栅对于控制道砟层累积沉降具有较显著的效果，但当土工格栅的刚度达到一定程度后刚度对土工格栅控制沉降效果的影响不大；土工格栅能够显著减小轨枕下方道砟层土压力峰值，从而降低道砟磨耗破碎程度及由此引起的道床沉降；道砟层累积沉降的发展意味着道砟颗粒的错动，而道砟颗粒的错动与位移将引起嵌锁于道砟层中的土工格栅发生张拉，从而土工格栅将反过来对道砟颗粒的进一步位移错动形成侧向约束，体现于宏观即表现为道砟层累积沉降得到控制。     

Pullout behavior of a bearing polymeric strap under monotonic and cyclic tensile loads

Soil-reinforcement interaction consists of three factors including frictional resistance, shear strength of the soil and passive resistance. In the ordinary polymeric strap (PS) reinforcement, only frictional resistance contributes to pullout resistance. In this study, in order to develop passive resistance in the soil, a number of angles as transversal elements were attached to PS reinforcement, which is called bearing polymeric strap (BPS). The post-cyclic pullout behaviour of the BPS is evaluated using a large-scale pullout apparatus adopting multistage pullout (MSP) test and one-stage pullout (OSP) test procedures. The results show that a spacing-to-high ratio of angles equal to 3.33 gives the maximum pullout resistance. MSP tests were performed on the BPS with an optimum arrangement to evaluate the influence of various factors including cyclic tensile load amplitude, load frequency and number of load cycles, and also the influence of vertical effective stress on the pullout resistance and the peak apparent coefficient of friction mobilized at the soil-BPS interface. Moreover, for BPS system with a single isolated transverse member, the bearing capacity factor N_q was calculated using equations based on three failure modes and it was found that the N_q calculated in the punching shear failure mode makes the best prediction.