Evaluation of the long-term performance of geosynthetic reinforcements from their reduction factors

We have compared the long-term performance of geosynthetic reinforcements in the form of membrane drawn, warp/knitted, junction bonded and composite types of geogrid, and strip-type reinforcement, from their total safety factors calculated from the combined reduction factors. To evaluate these reduction factors, wide-width tensile measurements, installation damage, creep deformation and chemical and biological degradation tests were performed. The total safety factor for the geosynthetic reinforcements was calculated from the experimental results of these reduction factors. The long-term design strength of the geosynthetic reinforcements was calculated using equations contained in the Geosynthetic Research Institute Standard Test Method GG4. Among the geosynthetic reinforcements studied, strip-type reinforcements and composite-type geogrids showed excellent long-term performance.