Pull-out tests for Soil Nails

Question

Illustrate the main reasons for conducting pull-out tests for soil nails?

Answer 1

There are four major reasons for carrying out this test:

a) To verify and check strength of the bond between soil and grout used during the soil nails design. This is the chief objective of conducting soil nail pull-out test.
b) To determine the strength of the bond between soil and grout for further design purpose. Though, if this target is attained, the test nails should be loaded to find out the ultimate soil/grout bond with the high limit of 80% of ultimate tensile strength of steel bars.
c) To check if there is any slippage or creep occurrence.
d) To check the elastic and plastic deformations of test nails. Thisis observed during the repeated loading and unloading cycles of soil nails.