Giuseppe Cardile

Pullout Behaviour of Different Geosynthetics Embedded in Granular Soils

The paper deals with the results of a large experimental program aimed at the study of the behaviour of different geosynthetics in static pullout conditions. The pullout tests were carried out using a large test apparatus composed by a pullout box, a vertical load application system, a horizontal force application device, a special clamp, and all the required instrumentation. The displacements of the specimen have been measured and recorded through inextensible steel wires connected to the specimen in at least six different points and to RVDTs fixed to the external back side of the box. Tests have been performed on a uniform medium sand compacted at 95% Proctor. Two different types of geosynthetics have been tested. More than 10 pullout tests have been performed, varying the applied vertical pressures (10, 25, 50 kN/m2). The horizontal speed has been equal to 1.0 mm/min for all tests. The discussion of the test results allows to evaluate the influence of applied vertical pressures on pullout behaviour.