Experimental study on a new type of FBG-3D printed geogrid in embankment reinforcement

Department of Civil Engineering, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200072, China

^* Corresponding author: mxzhang@i.shu.edu.cn

Abstract

Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) has been widely used in many civil engineering applications to sense strains and deformations. Combining the advantages of geosynthetics and FBG, this paper creatively presents a new type of FBG-3D printed geogrid, which allows reinforcement and accurate deformation monitoring. Geogrid is directly used as the packaging structure of FBG sensor, and the complete coordinated deformation between the grating monitoring areas of FBG sensor and geogrid is obtained through calibration test. A series of model tests were carried out with FBG-3D printed geogrid to study the influence of reinforcement layers and reinforcement spacing on the bearing capacity and deformation of embankment under cyclic loading. The test results showed that geogrid effectively improved the footing settlement, slope displacement of reinforced embankment under cyclic load, and the effect was more obvious with the decrease of geogrid spacing. The strain data inside the embankment was accurately collected by FBG sensors. Relevant research provides valuable suggestions for the development and application of new geosynthetics.