TECHNICAL NOTES
Sep 15, 2003

Plate Load Test on Fiber-Reinforced Soil

Publication: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 129, Issue 10

Abstract

This technical note discusses the load–settlement response from two steel plate load tests (0.3 m diameter, 25 mm thick) carried out on a thick homogeneous stratum of compacted sandy soil, reinforced with polypropylene fibers, as well as on the same soil without the reinforcement. In addition to the field test program, laboratory triaxial compression tests were performed to determine the static stress–strain response of the compacted sandy soil reinforced with randomly distributed polypropylene fibers. The laboratory test results showed that the reinforcement changed dramatically the stress–strain behavior at very large strains. The strength was found to increase continuously at a constant rate, regardless of the confining pressure applied, not reaching an asymptotic upper limit, even at axial strains as large as 25%. The plate load test on the soil–fiber stratum was performed to relatively high pressures, and gave a noticeable stiffer response than that carried out on the nonreinforced stratum.

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Published In

Go to Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 129Issue 10October 2003
Pages: 951 - 955

History

Received: May 10, 2001
Accepted: Nov 17, 2002
Published online: Sep 15, 2003
Published in print: Oct 2003

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Authors

Affiliations

Nilo C. Consoli
Associate Professor, Dept. of Civil Engineering, Federal Univ. of Rio Grande do Sul, Ave. Osvaldo Aranha, 99, 3. andar, 90035-190 Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil (corresponding author).
Michéle D. T. Casagrande
Research Assistant, Dept. of Civil Engineering, Federal Univ. of Rio Grande do Sul, Ave. Osvaldo Aranha, 99, 3. andar, 90035-190 Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
Pedro D. M. Prietto
Associate Professor, School of Engineering and Architecture, Catholic Univ. of Pelotas, Rua Félix da Cunha, 412, 96010-000 Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
Anto⁁nio Thomé
Associate Professor, School of Engineering, Univ. of Passo Fundo Campus I, Bairro São José, 99001-970 Passo Fundo, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

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