Influence of Strain Rate on the Load-Strain Characteristics of Geosynthetics

Abstract

Experimental results dealing with the influence of strain rate on the load-strain characteristics of five different geosynthetics are presented and discussed, including the load-strain curves and the strength of these materials. Theoretical and empirical formulae are proposed to describe the observed behaviour of the geosynthetics investigated. Particular attention is devoted to complex loading histories, for example, loading at a constant strain rate followed by creep or stress relaxation and then subsequent loading at the same strain rate. Such loading programmes reveal interesting features of the geosynthetics’ behaviour, which can be designated as the isotach properties. This problem is discussed in detail and a simple method of describing these properties is proposed.