Effectiveness of geogrids as inclusions in cover soils of slopes of waste disposal areas

This paper presents an experimental investigation on the use of geogrids buried in cover soils of slopes of waste disposal areas using a large-scale ramp test. The tests involved the use of geogrids with varying values of tensile stiffness and bearing capacity (number of bearing members) installed at different elevations above the geomembrane resting on the ramp surface. The influence of the use of a geotextile layer on the geomembrane on the behaviour of the system was also assessed. The results show that the presence of a geogrid in the cover soil, and particularly of a geogrid with a geotextile on the geomembrane, can significantly reduce the deformability of the cover soil and the tensile forces mobilised in the geomembrane, as well as increase the inclination of the slope at failure. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.