SEDL / STP / STP1190-EB / STP24310S

Intrinsic Confined and Unconfined Load-Deformation Properties of Geotextiles

Ballegeer, JP
GEI Consultants, Inc., Englewood, CO

Wu, JTH
University of Colorado at Denver, Denver, CO

Pages: 16    Published: Jan 1993

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Abstract

This paper presents intrinsic load-deformation properties of different geotextiles under confined and unconfined conditions. The confined load-deformation properties were determined by a test method (the intrinsic confined test) proposed by Wu (1991) for design and specification of geotextile-reinforced soil structures. The intrinsic confined test has three distinct characteristics: (1) it is an “element” test, thus the load-deformation properties determined from the test are the intrinsic properties of the geotextile; (2) the test measures the confined stiffness and strength of geotextiles without inducing soil-geotextile interface adhesion, thereby simulates the predominant operational condition in geotextile-reinforced soil structures; and (3) the stiffness and strength obtained from the test are conservative values if soil-geotextile interface slippage does occur. A detailed procedure for the intrinsic test method is described. The described method uses only a thin rubber membrane, without soil, for confinement.Four nonwoven geotextiles and one woven geotextile were tested.Discussions of the test results are presented.