Pullout tests on diagonally enhanced geocells embedded in sand to improve load-deformation response subjected to significant planar tensile loads

This paper presents pullout test results on conventional (ordinary) and diagonally enhanced geocells under surcharge pressures of 3, 13, 23 and 33 kPa. Extensive pullout tests on scaled geocells embedded in silica sand are performed to investigate the effects of improvements on load-deformation response, strength and stiffness. Conventional web-shaped geocells are having a small stiffness when subjected to planar tension attributed to deformability of webs. Therefore, conventional geocells may not function properly when subjected to tensile forces along the main plane in service. A special geocell is fabricated in this study, similar to tendoned geocells, through adding diagonal members along the induced tensile load to overcome the shortcomings of conventional geocells. The test results have shown that both the stiffness and ultimate resistance of the diagonally enhanced geocells have significantly improved with respect to the conventional ones. Afterwards, three experiments were carried out on a small-scale shallow footing resting on sand reinforced with geocells, indicating improvement in bearing capacity as well as load-settlement response of footings supported by the diagonally enhanced geocells as compared to conventional geocells. •Proposing a diagonally enhanced geocell to improve performance of geocells whenever in-plane tensile forces are prevailing.•Extensive pullout tests on conventional and enhanced geocellls investigating performance under various surcharge pressures.•Physical modeling tests on a footing with ordinary/modified geocells to show advantages of proposed modified geocell.•Applications in engineering practice include protection of steep slopes, basal reinforcement and other reinforcements.