Field and Laboratory Pullout Resistance Tests for Four Soil Reinforcement Systems

摘要

This report presents the results of field and laboratory testing of severalconfigurations of earth reinforcing elements used in retaining wall systems. Reinforcement elements were placed in zones of sand, gravel, and clay within a specially constructed embankment in the field and tested for pullout resistance. Pullout resistance vs. displacement curves showed that lab tests were characterized by high initial pullout resistance which decreased with continued displacement while field tests showed low initial pullout resistance which increased with continued displacement. Sand and gravel provided similar pullout resistance which were both higher than clay. C channels with tee configurations and corrosion resistant elements produced higher pullout resistances than other elements. Field test results were generally inconsistent making pullout behavior difficult to characterize. Lab test results were high compared to field and should not be used as an estimate of field pullout resistance within the first 2-inches of displacement.