Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Limit State and Creep Behaviour of High-Density Polyethylene Geocell

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
International Journal of Geosynthetics and Ground Engineering Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A geocell, if fabricated from high-density polyethylene (HDPE), likely suffers from excessive deformation. The level of deformation is dependent on the load applied to the geocell and sections of the geocell the load acts on. Displacement-controlled tests were applied to sole sections of geocell, namely the cell wall, edge, and junctions. The tests consisted of wall elongating, edge tearing, and junction debonding. The tests were cell section-orientated, thus enabling identifying the most vulnerable part of the cellular system. The tests results comprised the tensile strength and creep behaviour of cell specimens. It was found that displacement rates affected the tensile strength and post-peak elongation at a level specific to the cell sections tested. The tensile strength of all sections of the geocell decreased with the displacement rate. The load magnitude affected the creep behaviour of the material and changed the time interval between the start of loading to a rupture. The creep behaviour was modelled numerically. Numerical simulations showed that stress concentration occurred at certain points on the geocell.

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

Fig. 1

Adapted from Liu et al. [18])

Fig. 2
Fig. 3

(Adapted from Liu et al. [18])

Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Siabil SMAG, Tafreshi SNM, Dawson AR (2020) Response of pavement foundations incorporating both geocells and expanded polystyrene (EPS) geofoam. Geotext Geomembranes 48(1):1–23

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Venkateswarlu H, Ujjawal KN, Hegde A (2018) Laboratory and numerical investigation of machine foundations reinforced with geogrids and geocells. Geotext Geomembranes 46(6):882–896

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Biswas A, Krishna AM (2017) Geocell-reinforced foundation systems: a critical review. Int J Geosynth Gr Eng. 3:2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Song F, Liu H, Ma L, Hu H (2018) Numerical analysis of geocell-reinforced retaining wall failure modes. Geotext Geomembranes 46(3):284–296

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Tafreshi SNM, Darabi NJ, Dawson AR (2020) Combining EPS geofoam with geocell to reduce buried pipe loads and trench surface rutting. Geotext Geomembranes 48(3):400–418

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Liu Y, Deng A, Jaksa M (2018) Three-dimensional modeling of geocell-reinforced straight and curved ballast embankments. Comput Geotech 102:53–65

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Liu Y, Deng A, Jaksa M (2020) Three-dimensional discrete-element modeling of geocell-reinforced ballast considering breakage. Int J Geomech 20(4):04020032

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Tafreshi SNM, Rahimi M, Dawson AR, Leshchinsky B (2019) Cyclic and post-cycling anchor response in geocell-reinforced sand. Can Geotech J 56(11):1700–1718

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Hyeong-Joo K, Myoung-Soo W et al (2015) Finite-element analysis on the stability of geotextile tube-reinforced embankments under scouring. Int J Geomech. 15(2):6014019

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Venkateswarlu H, Hegde A (2020) Effect of influencing parameters on the vibration isolation efficacy of geocell reinforced soil beds. Int J Geosynth Gr Eng. 6:2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Pokharel SK, Han J, Leshchinsky D, Parsons RL (2018) Experimental evaluation of geocell-reinforced bases under repeated loading. Int J Pavement Res Technol 11(2):114–127

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Kolathayar S, Sowmya S, Priyanka E (2020) Comparative study for performance of soil bed reinforced with jute and sisal geocells as alternatives to HDPE Geocells. Int J Geosynth Gr Eng. 6:4

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Edil TB, Benson CH, Bin-Shafique M, Tanyu BF, Kim W-H, Senol A (2002) Field evaluation of construction alternatives for roadways over soft subgrade. Transp Res Rec 1786(1):36–48

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Dash SK (2012) Effect of geocell type on load-carrying mechanisms of geocell-reinforced sand foundations. Int J Geomech 12(5):537–548

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Ferreira FB, Vieira CS, Lopes ML, Ferreira PG (2020) HDPE geogrid-residual soil interaction under monotonic and cyclic pullout loading. Geosynth Int 27(1):79–96

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Allen TM, Bathurst RJ (2019) Geosynthetic reinforcement stiffness characterization for MSE wall design. Geosynth Int 26(6):592–610

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Thakur JK, Han J, Parsons RL (2013) Creep behavior of geocell-reinforced recycled asphalt pavement bases. J Mater Civ Eng 25(10):1533–1542

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Liu Y, Deng A, Jaksa M (2019) Failure mechanisms of geocell walls and junctions. Geotext Geomembranes 47(2):104–120

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Eldesouky HMG, Brachman RWI (2020) Viscoplastic modelling of HDPE geomembrane local stresses and strains. Geotext Geomembranes 48(1):41–51

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Merry SM, Bray JD (1997) Time-dependent mechanical response of HDPE geomembranes. J Geotech Eng 123(1):57–65

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Cardile G, Moraci N, Pisano M (2017) Tensile behaviour of an HDPE geogrid under cyclic loading: experimental results and empirical modelling. Geosynth Int 24(1):95–112

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Shinoda M, Bathurst RJ (2004) Lateral and axial deformation of PP, HDPE and PET geogrids under tensile load. Geotext Geomembranes 22(4):205–222

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Yeo SS, Hsuan YG (2007) The short- and long-term compressive behavior of high-density polyethylene geonet and geocomposite under inclined conditions. Geosynth Int 14(3):154–164

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Zhang C, Moore ID (1997) Nonlinear mechanical response of high density polyethylene. Part I: Experimental investigation and model evaluation. Polym Eng Sci. 37(2):404–13

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Wesseloo J, Visser AT, Rust E (2004) A mathematical model for the strain-rate dependent stress-strain response of HDPE geomembranes. Geotext Geomembranes 22(4):273–295

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. ASTM D4533 / D4533M-15 Standard Test Method for Trapezoid Tearing Strength of Geotextiles. In ASTM International West Conshohocken, PA, USA.

  27. ASTM D638–14 Standard Test Method for Tensile Properties of Plastics, ASTM International. In ASTM International West Conshohocken, PA, USA.

  28. de França FAN, de Bueno B, S, (2011) Creep behavior of geosynthetics using confined-accelerated tests. Geosynth Int 18(5):242–254

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Xu M, Hallinan B, Wille K (2016) Effect of loading rates on pullout behavior of high strength steel fibers embedded in ultra-high performance concrete. Cem Concr Compos 70:98–109

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Kim DJ, El-Tawil S, Naaman AE (2008) Loading rate effect on pullout behavior of deformed steel fibers. ACI Mater J 105(6):576

    Google Scholar 

  31. Isik A, Gurbuz A (2020) Pullout behavior of geocell reinforcement in cohesionless soils. Geotext Geomembranes 48(1):71–81

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Liu H (2007) Material Modelling for Structural analysis of Polyethylene. University of Waterloo.

  33. Findley WN (1960) Mechanism and mechanics of creep of plastics, vol 16. SPE Journal, Providence

    Google Scholar 

  34. Sing A, Mitchell J (1968) 55. General stress-strain-time function for soils. J Terramechanics. 5(2):78

    Google Scholar 

  35. Spathis G, Katsourinis S, Kontou E (2017) Evaluation of fundamental viscoelastic functions by a nonlinear viscoelastic model. Polym Eng Sci 57(12):1389–1395

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Zhang C, Moore ID (1997) Finite element modelling of inelastic deformation of ductile polymers. Geosynth Int 4(2):137–163

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Kühl A, Muñoz-Rojas PA, Barbieri R, Benvenutti IJ (2017) A procedure for modeling the nonlinear viscoelastoplastic creep of HDPE at small strains. Polym Eng Sci 57(2):144–152

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Bailey RW Creep of steel under simple and compund stresses, and the use of high initial temperature in steam power plants. In: Transactions of the World Power Conference. page 1089.

  39. Norton FH (1929) The creep of steel at high temperatures. Library (Lond).

Download references

Acknowledgements

The laboratory work and photos that are presented in this study are contributed by Honours students Dongfang Li, Fengyi Ding, Qinxin Yu and Haolin Liao.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Civil, Environmental and Mining Engineering, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia

    An Deng & Zhihao Huangfu

Authors
  1. An Deng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Zhihao Huangfu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

Both authors contributed to the work and read and approved the final manuscript. The contribution breakdowns are as follows: Conceptualization: AD and ZH; Methodology: AD and ZH; Formal analysis and investigation: AD and ZH; Writing—original draft preparation: AD and ZH; Writing—review and editing: AD; Resources: AD and ZH; Supervision: AD. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to An Deng.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Deng, A., Huangfu, Z. Limit State and Creep Behaviour of High-Density Polyethylene Geocell. Int. J. of Geosynth. and Ground Eng. 7, 28 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40891-021-00269-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40891-021-00269-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation