Pullout behavior of geogrid reinforcement in calcareous sand

Abstract

This study conducts a series of large-scale pullout tests to explore the pullout behavior of the biaxial geogrid-calcareous sand interface. It investigates the effects of normal stress, relative density, and embedded length on the interface pullout behavior of geogrid reinforcement in calcareous sand. In addition, this research examines changes in interface shear strength and the interface friction coefficient. The interface interaction mechanism of geogrid reinforcement in calcareous sand and the evolution of pullout force-clamp displacement curves are determined. The results indicated that the pullout force-clamp displacement curve primarily exhibits softening and hardening behaviors. The passive resistance of the geogrid mesh significantly influences the softening behavior, while shear friction predominantly affects the hardening behavior. The interface friction coefficient ranged from 0.28 to 0.88 for embedded lengths of 300 − 460 mm. The effects of relative density and embedded length on interface cohesion are more pronounced than those on the interface friction angle. When the embedded length increased from 300 to 460 mm, the rise in interface cohesion ranged from 42.0% to 47.7%, whereas the increase in internal friction angle ranged from 9.5% to 14.5%.

Keywords:

• Calcareous sand
• pullout test
• geogrid-calcareous sand interface
• interface interaction mechanism
• pullout force

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s)

Data availability statement

Some or all data, models, or codes that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

This paper presents part of a research project funded by the General Program of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant numbers: 41330642, 41572297, and 41877267). The authors wish to express their sincere thanks to the people concerned.