Use of Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) technique to measure strains in geogrids

Queensland University of Technology, School of Civil Engineering and Built Environment, QLD, Australia

^* Corresponding author: chaminda.gallage@qut.edu.au

Abstract

Geosynthetics are widely used in Geotechnical Engineering to reinforce soil/gravel in pavements, retaining wall backfills, and embankments. It is important to measure strains in geogrids in the determination of their strength parameters such as tensile strength and secant stiffness, and in evaluating their performances in geogrid-reinforced structures. Strain gauges are commonly used in measuring strains in geogrids. However, it is important to verify the strains measured by strain gauges as these strains are affected by the data logging device, gauge factors, quality of bonding between grain gauge and geogrid, and temperature. Therefore, this study was conducted to verify the performance of strain gauges attached to Geogrids and also to investigate the possibility of using PIV technique and GeoPIV-RG software to measure the local strains developed in a geogrid specimen under tensile testing in the laboratory. In the experimental program of this study, six composite geogrid specimens were tested for tensile strength (wide-width tensile tests) while measuring/calculating its tensile strain by using strain gauges attached to the specimens, Geo-PIV-RG analysis and crosshead movements of Instron apparatus. Good agreement between the strains obtained from strain gauges and geoPIV-RG analysis was observed for all the tests conducted. These results suggest that the PIV technique along with geoPIV-RG program can effectively be used to measure the local strain of geogrids in the laboratory tests. It was also able to verify that properly installed strain gauges are able to measure strain in the geogrids which are used in the field applications.