Field performance of a geogrid-reinforced expansive soil slope: a case study

The aim of this study is to better understand the long-term stability and reinforcement mechanism of expansive soil cut slopes repaired by geogrid reinforcement. A expansive soil slope repaired by geogrid was monitored for two years without interruption. The monitored results demonstrate that the water content of the reinforced expansive soil slope is gradually stabilized in two years after the treatment. The variation trend of geogrid strains is consistent with that of lateral earth pressures in the slope. The geogrid strain decreases with a decrease in earth pressure. When the earth pressure is stable, the geogrid strain approaches the initial value. The geogrid reinforcement is able to inhibit crack development, limit soil deformation and release soil swelling pressure, thus maintaining the long-term stability of expansive soil slope.