Abstract:

A series of consolidated undrained triaxial tests were carried out on saturated sand reinforced with horizontal-vertical(H-V) inclusions of galvanized iron and perspex. The behavior of reinforced saturated sand was studied in terms of stress-strain relationship, pore pressures, shear strength of the soil and the failure situation of specimen. The influences of different vertical configurations of H-V reinforcing elements, confining pressures and reinforcing materials on the strength of reinforced saturated sand were discussed. The relationship between 3 dimensional reinforcing and geocell reinforcing was presented; and cavitation occurred in dilatant soils was discussed. It is shown that the peak deviator stress and shear strength at failure increase greatly for saturated sand reinforced with H-V elements as compared with unreinforced sand and sand reinforced with conventional horizontal inclusions, especially for those reinforced with galvanized iron sheet reinforcements. Meanwhile, reinforcements made of galvanized iron can improve the ductility of saturated sand.

Key words: horizontal-vertical (H-V) inclusion, saturated sand, triaxial test, strength, deformation, cavitation