Creep Performance of Geosynthetic Reinforcements

Abstract

Most geosynthetic materials exhibit rheological properties that lead to creep strain response when subjected to sustained loads, and consequently it is necessary to evaluate their long-term creep deformation before any real application. This paper presents the results of sustained loading tests conducted on large-scale geogrid soil reinforcement. The purpose of these laboratory tests was to identify the appropriate design parameters for geosynthetic-reinforced systems. The results of these tests demonstrate the continuous creep deformation characteristic of geogrid materials under constant sustained loading. The increase in the applied load led to a continuous increase in the amount and rate of the geogrid creep deformation. The data analysis method used in this investigation enabled the possibility of predicting the load-deformation-time behavior and the ultimate load of geosynthetic reinforcements.