Pullout behavior and resistance characteristics of geogrids against clinker ash using laboratory pullout test

The clinker ash is a by-product of thermal power plant which has light weight and high shear strength. The use of clinker ash for backfill material of reinforced earth walls is expected instead of lacking sand. We investigated the pullout characteristics of geogrids embedded in clinker ash layer using laboratory pullout test under different conditions of overburden pressure. Six types of clinker ash with different particle size distributions were used to conduct the laboratory pullout and the direct shear tests. The pullout behavior and resistance were examined based on the pullout test results. In addition, the strength parameter obtained from pullout test was compared with that from direct shear test. As a result, it was found that the internal friction angle of clinker ash from pullout test was close to the that from direct shear test.

Clinker ash

Geogrids

Pullout test

Reinforced earth wall