A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Engineering, School of Civil Engineering

Thesis (M.Eng.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 1999

An analytical model for predicting the pullout resistance of hexagonal wire mesh reinfo1~cement for both galvanized and PVC-coated types has been proposed. The influence of transverse wires rotation was expressed in the deformation characteristic of hexagonal wire mesh reinforcement. The displacement along the reinforcement was calculated by using the proposed deformation characteristic corresponding to the reinforcement axial stiffness. The mobilized bearing resistance was calculated by a proposed hyperbolic bearing resistance/displacement relationship modified from Wongsawanon (1998). The mobilized friction resistance was simulated by linear, elasticperfectly plastic model. Some relevant parameters for the analysis were verified by pullout test with specially designed specimens. The validity of the method is confirmed by good agreement between calculated values and actual test results. The percentages of the friction resistance to the total pullout resistance were analytically obtained as 25% and 21 % for galvanized and PVC-coated hexagonal wire mesh reinforcements, respectively, and compared with the corresponding values of up to 46% and 37% predicted by Wongsawanon (1998). In addition, the tension in reinforcement was calculated by using limit equilibrium analysis. The tension was evaluated equal to the total resistance of surrounding soil behind the considered section. The computed values of tension were validated by the estimated tension from the measured strains data with the stress/strain relationship of an individual wire in hexagonal wire mesh. The effective embedment lengths and pullout displacement to mobilize the desired pullout resistance of hexagonal wire mesh reinforcement under different applied normal pressures were also be determined by the proposed analytical model.