Study on Interaction of Reinforcing Strips Embedded in Cement Modified Marginal Backfill

Pull-out resistance of reinforcing materials is one of the internal stability criterions in Mechanically Stabilized Earth (MSE) construction which is normally calculated taking the friction coefficient equal to tan(δ); δ being the angle of internal friction in case of rigid reinforcing materials. For flexible/extensible reinforcing strips, the friction coefficient cannot be directly taken and in this direction, several attempts have been made by various researchers to evaluate suitable pull-out parameters. Further, the complexity increases within the use of marginal backfill soils where suitable soils are not available. The present work aims at determining the pull-out parameters of different types of reinforcing materials embedded in marginal backfill soil without and with cement modification. The testing was carried out in laboratory using a test box. The pull-out factors F and α as suggested by FHWA were evaluated using the test data.