Enhancing Shear Resistance of Dune Sand with Perforated Geotextile Reinforcement

Abstract

The study evaluates the shear resistance gain of dune sands reinforced by a geotextile. The reinforcing geotextile is regularly perforated and inserted to provide a fictitious 'cohesion' to the latter. The shear resistance test of the sand, before and after geotextile addition, is perceived through parameterised triaxial tests.

The results showed a gain in 'cohesion' of the sand-geotextile compound up to 380 kPa. However, the internal friction weakens by 16% compared to the sand alone. The optimal pattern of the perforated geotextile has also been identified based on the required shear strength characteristics. The optimisation of the perforation pattern of the geotextile introduced into the sand makes it possible to reduce the surface area of the geotextile used by almost half.

Moreover, the analytical examination of the obtained results makes it possible to predict the values of the 'cohesion' and the friction of the sand-geotextile compound according to the sand used and the chosen pattern of the perforated geotextile.The correlation between experimental results and predicted values exceeds 98%.