Construction of slopes using cohesive fills and a new innovative geosynthetic material

The results of this research program on the effectiveness of a new geosynthetic combined drainage and reinforcement in a geogrid are presented. Dissipation tests in English China Clay show that initial excess pore water pressures of 50 and 100kPa can both b dissipated to 20% of their initial values in 36 to 42 hours. Pullout test in English China Clay show that the new geosynthetic can improve the soil reinforcement bond after only partial dissipation of excess pore water pressure. After full dissipation the pullout resistance at small displacements can increase by as much as 500% when compared with a conventional geogrid of similar construction but with no drainage component.