FABRIC REINFORCED TRIAL EMBANKMENT.

A sand fill embankment, 4 m high by 100 m long has been constructed to investigate the ability of medium strength woven polypropylene sheets to act as reinforcing agents. Fabrics with nominal tensile strengths of under 20 kN/m and under 50 kN/m both performed satisfactorily to give side slopes to the construction of better than 70 degree . Attempts were made to measure both fabric and fill strains as construction proceeded. Data from these measurements indicate that the major fabric extensions occurring at the time of construction are caused by the influence of compaction and are largely independent of embankment height. Since construction, almost three years ago, the embankment has continued to stand with no evidence of decline in the structural function of the fabric reinforcement. refs.