Experimental investigation on reinforced characteristics of geogrids in seasonal frozen soil

A series of pullout tests to investigate the reinforced characteristics of geogrids in frozen soil are conducted in the laboratory under various moisture contents and different freeze-thaw cycles. Based on the theories about frictional strength, apparent friction coefficient, interface frictional resistance and passive resistance, the test data are analyzed. Some conclusions are drawn that the moisture content can obviously inhibit the effect of reinforcement. The interface frictional resistance and passive resistance both decrease to 40% while the moisture content increases from 20% to 32%. Then the moisture content is constant to 24%, the freeze-thaw cycles can improve the reinforcement effect of geogrids. Mainly for the passive resistance has a certain extent enhancement, but the interface frictional resistance nearly has no change. The experimental results are of referring value for the design of geogrids-reinforced earth structures.