Geosynthetic Reinforced Soil Performance Testing—Axial Load Deformation Relationships

TLDR: The geosynthetic reinforced soil (GRS) performance test (PT), also called a mini-pier experiment, consists of constructing alternating layers of compacted granular fill and GRS reinforcement with a facing element that is frictionally connected, then axially loading the GRS mass while measuring deformation to monitor performance as discussed by the authors.

Abstract: The geosynthetic reinforced soil (GRS) performance test (PT), also called a mini-pier experiment, consists of constructing alternating layers of compacted granular fill and geosynthetic reinforcement with a facing element that is frictionally connected, then axially loading the GRS mass while measuring deformation to monitor performance. This large element load test provides material strength properties of a particular GRS composite built with unique combinations of reinforcement, compacted fill, and facing elements. This report describes the procedure and provides axial load- deformation results for a series of PTs conducted in both Defiance County, OH, as part of the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) Every Day Counts (EDC) GRS Validation Sessions and in McLean, VA, at the FHWA’s Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center as part of a parametric study. The primary objectives of this research report are to: (1) build a database of GRS material properties that can be used by designers for GRS abutments and integrated bridge systems; (2) evaluate the relationship between reinforcement strength and spacing; (3) quantify the contribution of the frictionally connected facing elements at the service limit and strength limit states; (4) assess the new internal stability design method proposed by Adams et al. 2011 for GRS; and (5) perform a reliability analysis of the proposed soil-geosynthetic capacity equation for LRFD calibration.