Determining the design parameters for geosynthetic reinforcements subject to multi-stage actions using the isochronous strain energy approach Available to Purchase

Geosynthetic-reinforced soil structures may be required to resist multi-stage actions, such as sustained plus traffic loading or sustained plus seismic loading. Current design codes/methods do not recognise possible differences that may exist between the response of geosynthetics to multi-stage actions and to single-stage actions. In this paper, it is suggested that the isochronous strain energy approach can be used to better interpret the load–strain–time behaviour of geosynthetics subject to multi-stage actions. Test data from sustained plus cyclic loading and sustained plus short-term loading are presented and analysed using the isochronous strain energy approach. Based on these analyses, two design methods are developed to take account of the various responses of geosynthetics to different forms of multi-stage loading.