Pullout Behavior of Metallic and Synthetic Strips in Conventional and Alternative Fill Materials

This study investigates the pullout performance of linear reinforcements, including metallic and synthetic strips, in conventional and alternative fill materials. The fill soils examined in this research encompass lateritic soil (LS), crushed sand (CS), and recycled sand (RS) derived from construction and demolition waste. The study comprises a comprehensive assessment, encompassing geotechnical characterization of the fill materials, as well as standard pullout tests (ASTM D6706-01) on the reinforcements. The results of the study reveal that alternative fill materials can achieve pullout resistance mobilization comparable to natural materials, especially in applications involving reinforcements at the upper part of the retaining walls under appropriate drainage conditions. This observation is attributed to the granular nature of CS and RS, allowing these materials to mobilize higher levels of vertical stresses around the reinforcements compared to LS. This finding has significant implications for the use of sustainable and recycled materials in geotechnical engineering, highlighting the potential for environmentally friendly solutions in various construction and infrastructure projects.