Pullout Resistance Factors for Steel MSE Reinforcements Embedded in Gravelly Backfill
Publication: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 141, Issue 2
Abstract
This paper presents results from a laboratory program of 287 pullout tests of galvanized steel reinforcements used in the construction of mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) walls. Results focus on the evaluation of pullout resistance factors for ribbed steel strip and welded steel grid reinforcement embedded in gravelly backfill. This project used Texas Tech University’s large-scale MSE test box with dimensions of and an applied overburden capacity equivalent to 12 m of soil fill. The research design evaluated pullout resistance factors for both ribbed strip and welded grid reinforcements for a variety of independent variables, including overburden pressure, reinforcement length, grid bar size, and grid geometry including both transverse and longitudinal bar spacing. Appropriate statistical analyses were used to interpret the data within the context of published design guidance for inextensible MSE reinforcements. The results show that pullout resistance factors for both ribbed strips and welded grids in properly compacted gravelly backfill are significantly higher than those obtained for reinforcements embedded in sandy backfill, as well as default pullout resistance factors. In addition, the results obtained for welded grids indicate that transverse and longitudinal bar spacing, factors not considered in the current formulation, have significant influence on the pullout resistance capacity.
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Acknowledgments
The authors gratefully acknowledge the Texas DOT for sponsoring the research described in this paper. The authors thank Marie Fisk, John Delphia, and Marcus Galvan of the Texas DOT for technical guidance during the research. The authors also thank Robert Gladstone, Guy Nelson, John Sankey, and Thomas Taylor for participation in this project as an industry advisory panel.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 141 • Issue 2 • February 2015
Copyright
© 2014 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Dec 30, 2013
Accepted: Aug 19, 2014
Published online: Oct 2, 2014
Published in print: Feb 1, 2015
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