Selection of Geotechnical Fabrics for Embankment Reinforcement: Fid-Bau Portal

Selection of Geotechnical Fabrics for Embankment Reinforcement

T. A. Haliburton / C. C. Anglin / J. D. Lawmaster

Twenty-seven commercially available petrochemical-based geotechnical fabrics and one fiberglass fabric were tested and evaluated for suitability as reinforcement in an embankment test section to be constructed on soft foundation at Pinto Pass, Mobile Harbor, Alabama by the U.S. Army Engineer District, Mobile. Both woven and nonwoven fabrics were evaluated. All fabrics were subjected to initial testing in uniaxial tension and fabrics meeting or exceeding project sponsor-established strength criteria were subjected to additional testing for determination of creep behavior, soil-fabric frictional resistance, and effects of immersion and water absorption on developed tensile strength. The effects of specimen width and testing strain rate on uniaxial tension test results were also investigated. Four woven geotechnical fabrics plus the woven fiberglass fabric were found to meet or exceed required tensile strength criteria: Nicolon 66475, Nicolon 66186, Polyfilter-X, Advanced Type I, and Bay Mills 196-380-000 (fiberglass). Both Nicolon materials were found to have minimal creep tendency and strength loss after soaking. Bay Mills 196-380-000 had zero creep tendency and was not tested for soaking strength loss. Minimum soil-fabric frictional resistance for all five fabrics approximated soil alone behavior for a loose relative density condition. All five fabrics were recommended for consideration by the research sponsor for use as embankment reinforcement in test section construction. (Author)