Effect of Water Content on Pullout Strength of Reinforcement Embedded in Soil

摘要

It is well known that the water content of soil has a significant effect on the pullout strength of reinforcement embedded in soil, as well as on the overall performance of reinforced soil structures. Since the substantial amount of water in soil varies throughout the year, it is of prime importance to investigate the effect of water content on pullout strength of reinforcement when subjected to loading with various types of reinforcement. A series of pullout tests under variable normal stresses have been carried out in order to find out the effect of water content on soil reinforcement interactions under pullout test in reinforced soil structures. In this paper, an investigation of the pullout strength of reinforcement parameters such as cohesion and internal friction under laboratory pullout tests for woven square wire mesh with 3 mm openings and 0.8 mm wire diameter is presented. Stress-displacement relationships and volumetric changes under laboratory pullout tests are given in various charts and diagrams as a ready reference to aid in practical design and constructions. It appears from the results of the pullout tests performed that there exists a relationship between the pullout strength of reinforcement and water content of soil. It is concluded that the pullout strength of reinforcement such as frictional resistance and cohesion both are decreased with the increase in water content of the soil.