Effects of the loading rate and cyclic loading on the strength and deformation properties of a geosynthetic

The paper describes monotonic and cyclic load-extension tensile tests performed on a geocomposite used as soil reinforcement material. The effects of the loading rate and cyclic loading on the geocomposite behaviour are important to improve numerical codes. This study showed that the damping ratio tends to decrease, while the stiffness tends to increase, with the loading cycles. The unload and reload stiffness are not very sensitive to the loading frequency, for the range of values analysed. The damping ratio tends to decrease with frequency of loading. Previous cyclic loading did not induce significant reduction of the geosynthetic tensile strength.