Investigation of the impact behavior when using single and double layers of geosynthetics on buried pipe structures

Abstract

In this study the behavior of buried pipes under impact loading was investigated by forming protective layers with geosynthetics in various combinations in single and double layers. For this purpose, experiments were performed using a HDPE pipe with a 160 mm outer diameter, which is frequently used in the laboratory. In the experiments, Geocell, Geogrid, Geotextile, and Geonet protective layers at a depth of 120 mm were tested by laying Geosynthetic in single and double layers and then tested under the effects of impact loading by using free-weight dropping test apparatus. In the experimental study, the protective layers' energy absorption capacities were calculated by using acceleration measurements over the pipe and then evaluated together with their costs. In the experiments with a single layer Geosynthetic as a protective layer, Geonet's most successful protection structure was a 72.9 % acceleration-damping capacity. In the experiments with the combination of double-layer reinforcement elements, the most successful performance with 88.0 %, in terms of acceleration damping capacity, was obtained from Geocell and Geonet's combination with a thickness of 1 mm at a depth of 50 mm. When all the experiments with single- and double-layer Geosynthetic protective elements were evaluated as an acceleration damping ratio per unit cost, it was found that the optimum application was achieved when using a single-layer Geogrid.