A LONG-TERM DURABILITY OF GEOGRIDS

Retained tensile strength of geogrids, which were used as the reinforcement of reinforced soil retaining walls and abutments with rigid facing for a railroad line, are tested after almost 8 years of service. The geogrids were made from vinylon nets coated with polyvinyl chloride resin and those were selected because of their higher resistance to alkaline of recycled concrete stone that was used as the filling material. Ten specimens are taken from each upper, middle and lower position of the retaining walls and abutments, respectively. The results of tensile strength tests are shown in relation between the tensile strength and the strain at failure. Also each tensile strength from different positions is arranged to show the average tensile strength in kN/m considering with the deviation of the test results. The result shows that although there are strength differences among the positions of the geogrids, each retained tensile strength of the geogrids is well above the guaranteed tensile strength of the products.