Abstract
The tensile deformation and strength characteristics of polymer geosynthetic reinforcement are more-or-less viscous. Therefore, accurate evaluation and interpretation of the time-dependent tensile stress-strain behaviour of geosynthetic reinforcement is of great significance for the prediction of the long-term residual deformation of geosynthetic-reinforced soil structure. It is discussed that the creep is not a degrading process, but it is a response of a material due to its viscous properties. Viscous properties of four different types of geogrids were experimentally evaluated by performing monotonic loading (ML) at different strain rates while changing the strain rate and performing creep and stress relaxation tests during otherwise ML. The test results were simulated very well by three-component models. The structures of the model are discussed based on the test results. Based on the test results, it is discussed that usually it is not necessary to introduce a creep reduction factor when the design strength of geosynthetic reinforcement for a given lifetime is determined, but a correction for strain rate is relevant.
