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Influence of Suction on the Interface Characteristics of Unsaturated Marginal Lateritic Soil Backfills with Composite Geosynthetics

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Abstract

To address the concern of low-permeable backfills, a composite type of geosynthetics (CGR) which can perform the functions of drainage and reinforcement can be used in MSE structures. In the present study, interface shear strength characteristics of CGR were examined using large direct shear tests (300 mm × 300 mm × 200 mm) with an emphasis on the influence of suction on soil–reinforcement interaction. The influence of rainfall infiltration on soil–soil and soil–reinforcement interface characteristics was also evaluated. Loss of matric suction within the soil was observed due to rainwater infiltration which reduced the shear strength. It was observed that when rainfall infiltration caused an increase of 4% water content (Δw =  + 4%), the apparent cohesion in soil due to suction (cs) was decreased by 71%. Whereas the corresponding reduction in apparent adhesion due to suction (ca(s)) was only 30% for CGR. Similarly, Δw =  + 6%, due to rainwater infiltration caused a reduction of 91% in cs of soil whereas it was 38% for ca(s) in CGR. Rate of increase in cs and ca(s) is non-linear with suction. This paper demonstrates the reduction in shear strength and interface shear strength to be accounted for rainfall-induced wetting, while considering the marginal lateritic soil as the backfill for reinforced soil slopes/MSE walls.

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Data Availability

All data generated or analysed during this study are included in this published article.

Abbreviations

MSE:

Mechanically stabilized earth

FHWA:

Federal highway administration

NCMA:

National concrete masonry association

OMC:

Optimum moisture content

LS:

Lateritic soil

USCS:

Unified soil classification system

ASTM:

American society for testing and materials

SWCC:

Soil water charateristic curve

GWCC:

Geosynthetic water characteristic curve

CGR:

Composite geosynthetic reinforcement

\({\uptau }_{ff}\) :

Shear stress developed on the failure plane at failure (kN/m2)

\(c^{\prime }\) :

Effective cohesion (kN/m2)

\(c_{a}^{\prime }\) :

Adhesion intercept (kN/m2)

\({\sigma }_{n}\) :

Total normal stress (kN/m2)

\({u}_{a}\) :

Pore air pressure (kN/m2)

\(\phi ^{\prime }\) :

Effective angle of internal friction (degree)

\({\updelta }^{\mathrm{^{\prime}}}\) :

Interface friction angle (degree)

\({u}_{w}\) :

Pore water pressure (kN/m2)

\({\varphi }^{b}\) :

Angle indicating the rate of change of shear strength in relation to the variation in matric suction

\(\uptheta\) :

Volumetric water content in the soil (m3/m3)

\(\mathrm{\theta r}\) :

Residual volumetric water content of the soil (m3/m3)

θs :

Saturated volumetric water content (m3/m3)

\({\mathrm{c}}_{s}\) :

Suction induced cohesion (kN/m2)

\({\mathrm{c}}_{a(s)}\) :

Suction induced adhesion (kN/m2)

h:

Soil suction (kN/m2)

α:

Scale parameter of soil water characteristic curve

n:

Shape parameter of soil water characteristic curve

m:

Shape parameter of soil water characteristic curve

\(\uppsi\) :

Matric suction (kN/m2)

\({\uprho }_{w}\) :

Density of water in Mg/m3

he :

Elevation of the strip above the water level (m)

g:

Gravitational acceleration (m/s2)

w :

Gravimetric moisture content corresponding to as compacted condition (%)

Δw :

Increase in gravimetric moisture content due to rainfall induced wetting (%)

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Funding

The funding received from Ministry of Education, Government of India in carrying out this research is highly acknowledged.

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  1. Department of Civil Engineering (Primary), Environmental Sciences and Sustainable Engineering Centre (ESSENCE) (Secondary), Indian Institute of Technology Palakkad, Palakkad, Kerala, India

    K. A. Dhanya, T. S. D. Venkatesh & P. V. Divya

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All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation, data collection, experimental investigation and analysis were performed by DKA and TSDV. The first draft of the manuscript was written by DKA under the guidance of PVD. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to P. V. Divya.

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Dhanya, K.A., Venkatesh, T.S.D. & Divya, P.V. Influence of Suction on the Interface Characteristics of Unsaturated Marginal Lateritic Soil Backfills with Composite Geosynthetics. Int. J. of Geosynth. and Ground Eng. 9, 73 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40891-023-00491-6

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