Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Large-scale direct shear testing of geocell reinforced soil

  • Published:
Journal of Central South University of Technology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The tests on the shear property of geocell reinforced soils were carried out by using large-scale direct shear equipment with shear-box-dimensions of 500 mm×500 mm×400 mm (length×width×height). Three types of specimens, silty gravel soil, geocell reinforced silty gravel soil and geocell reinforced cement stabilizing silty gravel soil were used to investigate the shear stress-displacement behavior, the shear strength and the strengthening mechanism of geocell reinforced soils. The comparisons of large-scale shear test with triaxial compression test for the same type of soil were conducted to evaluate the influences of testing method on the shear strength as well. The test results show that the unreinforced soil and geocell reinforced soil give similar nonlinear features on the behavior of shear stress and displacement. The geocell reinforced cement stabilizing soil has a quasi-elastic characteristic in the case of normal stress coming up to 1.0 GPa. The tests with the reinforcement of geocell result in an increase of 244% in cohesion, and the tests with the geocell and the cement stabilization result in an increase of 10 times in cohesion compared with the unreinforced soil. The friction angle does not change markedly. The geocell reinforcement develops a large amount of cohesion on the shear strength of soils.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. DASH S K, SIREESH S, SITHARAM T G. Model studies on circular footing supported on geocell reinforced sand underlain by soft clay [J]. Geotextiles and Geomembranes, 2003, 21(4): 197–219.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. YAN Chang-gen, YANG Xiao-hua, SHI Yu-ling, QI Sheng-wen. Testing and application of geocell in loess slopes of highway [J]. Chinese Journal of Rock Mechanics and Engineering, 2006, 25(S1): 3235–3238. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  3. DASH S K, KRISHNASWAMY N R, RAJAOPAL K. Bearing capacity of strip footings supported on geocell-reinforced sand [J]. Geotextiles and Geomembranes, 2001, 19(4): 235–256.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. BATHURST R J, CROWE R E. Recent case histories of flexible geocell retaining walls in North America [C]// TATSUOKA F, LESHCHINSKY D. The International Symposium on Recent Case Histories of Permanent Geosynthetic-reinforced Soil Retaining Walls. Rotterdam: Balkema, 1994: 17–29.

    Google Scholar 

  5. MHAISKAR S Y, MANDAL J N. Investigations on soft clay subgrade strengthening using geocells [J]. Construction and Building Materials, 1996, 10(4): 281–286.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. BATHURST R J, JARRETT P. Large-scale model tests of geocomposite mattresses over peat subgrades [C]// ASTM Transportation Research Record 1188. Washington: Transportation Research Board, 1989: 28–36.

    Google Scholar 

  7. ASTM D 5321-02. Standard Test method for determining the coefficient of soil and geosynthetic or geosynthetic and geosynthetic friction by the direct shear method [S]. Pennsylvania: West Conshohocken, 2002.

    Google Scholar 

  8. BATHURST R J, KAPPURAPU R. Large-scale triaxial compression testing of geocell-reinforced granular soils [J]. Geotechnical Testing Journal, 1993, 16: 296–303.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. RAJAGOPAL K, KRISHNASWAMY N R, LATHA G M. Behavior of sand confined with single and multiple geocells [J]. Geotextiles and Geomembranes, 1999, 17(3): 171–184.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. LATHA G M, RAJAGOPAL K, KRISHNASWAMY N R. Experimental and theoretical investigations on geocell-supported embankments [J]. International Journal of Geomechanics, 2006, 6(1):30–35.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. LATHA G M, MURTHY T G. Effects of reinforcement form on the behavior of geosynthetic reinforced sand [J]. Geotextiles and Geomembranes, 2007, 25(1): 23–32.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. MENGELT M. Resilient modulus and plastic deformation of soil confined in a geocell [J]. Geosynthetics International, 2006(13): 195–205.

  13. LIU Xiao-li, LUO Jin-tian, MIN Hong, DENG Jian-hui, THAM L G. A new large direct shear apparatus for field and laboratory test (II) [J]. Rock and Soil Mechanics, 2006, 27(2): 336–340. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  14. CHEN R H, CHIU Y M. Model tests of geocell retaining structures [J]. Geotextiles and Geomembranes, 2008, 26(1): 56–70.

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  15. BAO Cheng-gang. Principle and application of geosynthetics in engineering [M]. Beijing: China Water Power Press, 2008. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  16. FAN Zhen-hui, WANG Yong-he. Elastic finite element analysis of reinforcing geogrids applied in high embankment slope [J]. Journal of Central South University: National Science, 2005, 36(5): 904–910. (in Chinese)

    MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  17. JT/T 669-2006. geosynthetics in highway engineering — Sort, capability demand and test methods of compositive materials [S]. Beijing: People’s Transportation Press, 2006. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  18. CRAIG R F. Soil mechanics [M]. London: Spon Press, 2001.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Civil and Transportation Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510640, China

    Yi-min Wang  (汪益敏), Ye-kai Chen  (陈页开) & Wei Liu  (刘炜)

Authors
  1. Yi-min Wang  (汪益敏)
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ye-kai Chen  (陈页开)
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Wei Liu  (刘炜)
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yi-min Wang  (汪益敏).

Additional information

Foundation item: Project(40672178) supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China; Project(2004844009) supported by the Chinese Scholarship Council

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Wang, Ym., Chen, Yk. & Liu, W. Large-scale direct shear testing of geocell reinforced soil. J. Cent. South Univ. Technol. 15, 895–900 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11771-008-0163-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11771-008-0163-z

Key words

Search

Navigation