Performance and creep characteristics of synthetic geogrids following hot dry climate

This paper investigates the behavior of geogrids under a hot dry climate. Kuwait was chosen as it experiences a wide range of annual temperature throughout the year, with air temperature rising to 45 degrees C in summer and dropping to 0 degrees C in winter. It also has an extremely high UV radiation level. Two geogrids, one high density polyethylene (HDPE) uniaxial and the other polypropylene (PP) biaxial grid, are being used for reinforcement and soil retaining wall applications in Kuwait. They were fully exposed, stored out of sunlight and buried in soil at the depths of 0.5 m and 1.5. Samples of material provided by the manufacturers were tested on delivery, then after sustaining exposure, storage and burial in soil for 3, 6 and 12 months. The tests carried were constant rate tensile test and wide width sustained load (creep) test with a loading period up to 1,000 hours. These results revealed some different responses.