A New Method of Determining the Load-Extension Properties of Geotechnical Fabrics

摘要

A new testing technique was developed to study the strength of geotechnical fabrics while the fabric is subjected to a normal compressive stress acting through a soil medium. The new in-soil, uniaxial test apparatus was used to investigate the load-extension behavior of two woven and two non-woven fabrics. Although the load-extension behavior of the woven fabrics was found to be significantly affected by the orientation of the test specimens it was not influenced by the level of the compressive stress. By contrast, the non-woven fabrics proved to be essentially isotropic, but the effect of confining pressure on the load-extension properties was quite marked. The authors concluded that further factors requiring study were: influence of soil type, rate of strain and effects of cyclic loading.