An analytical method to predict the pullout response of geotextiles

ABSTRACT: Understanding the pullout mechanism of geotextiles is a key consideration in analyzing the stability of geotextile/reinforced-soil structures. The analytical models developed based on linear behavioral assumptions for the geotextile material stress–strain response have significant limitations in capturing the highly nonlinear pullout response observed in relatively extensible geotextiles. A new analytical model was developed combining the nonlinear responses of the geotextile and soil–geotextile interface characteristics. The interface behavior was modeled considering the changes in normal stress on the planar geotextile due to constrained dilation of soil and the subsequent frictional degradation behaviors at the interface. The analytical solution is useful in predicting the pullout resistances, strain, and mobilized frictional length along the geotextile for a given magnitude of displacement. The suitability of the analytical formulation was verified by predicting the experimentally observed performance of several geotextile pullout tests conducted with varying geotextile material and burial conditions. A simple chart and equation capable of predicting strain and mobilized frictional length, respectively, for a given magnitude of relative geotextile displacement are proposed, based on the research findings.