Experimental and numerical studies of the performance of the new reinforcement system under pull-out conditions

Interaction parameters between soil and the reinforcement used in the design of reinforced soil systems, such as mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) walls, can be evaluated by measuring pull-out resistance. In the current study, the performance of a new system for increasing pull-out resistance is studied through numerical and experimental approaches. First, the performance of the new Grid Anchor (G-A) system is tested through 15 experiments involving large-scale pull-out tests in the laboratory. The results show that the system is able to increase the interaction coefficient of the pull-out (CIRp) by 100%, in comparison with the typical geogrid system. Finally, the results of a number of finite element analyses are compared with the experimental results, showing a positive relationship between the two studies. (C) 2015 Published by Elsevier Ltd.