Field Evaluation of a Glass-Fiber Soil Reinforcement System

Abstract

A soil reinforcement system using the combination of glass-fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) pipe and pressure grouting has been developed by a Korean company. The system is being adopted as slope stabilization measures in Hong Kong. Individual GFRP pipes were designed and installed as soil nails with the exception that two-stage pressure grouting was applied instead of gravity grouting. A full-scale field evaluation on constructability and in situ performance of the system was performed in Hong Kong. The performance of the constructed nails was evaluated by pullout tests. The construction procedure, site adaptations of the Korean product made in Hong Kong, field test procedure, and performance of the constructed soil nails are reported in this paper.