STUDY THE EFFECT OF GEOMEMBRANES ON THE INTERACTION BETWEEN THE SOIL AND UNDERGROUND STRUCTURES

Abstract

In this thesis, an experimental study is performed to evaluate the effect of the various types of geomembranes on the interaction between the cohesionless soil and the underground structure based on a wide range of shear strength tests. Thethickness and type of insulation geomembranes are considered in the experimental program. The different factors that affect the interface shear behavior are also studied. A comparison between the results of the interface friction angle for the different types of the geomembranes was conducted to determine whether the geomembranes influences the soil and the geomembrane interface shear properties or not. The interface friction angles for all tests are determined from the load and shear displacement relationships. The main objectives are to quantify the reduction in the shear resistance of soils in contact with buried concrete elements protected using different types of insulation geomembranes.The results of the experimental program are presented in the form of figures and tables. The thesis consists of six chapters Chapter (1) is a general introduction to this research; it discusses the objectives of this work,the importance, the scope and the researchorganization. Chapter (2) is a literature review that briefly discusses through the past researches the different methods in investigating the effect of insulation geomembranes on the interaction behavior between the underground structures and the soil.