Development of a Multiaxial Geosynthetics and Fibrous Material Test Device

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Drexel University has been at the forefront of geosynthetic and fibrous materials engineering since establishing separate centers of excellence in these fields in 1986. The Drexel-affiliated Geosynthetic Research Institute (GRI) is today the leading research and development institute dedicated entirely to geosynthetics. Drexel's geosynthetics and fibrous materials laboratory facilities have not kept pace with the University's achievements in these areas. Currently, many of the University's laboratory devicesare outdated. Moreover, researchers are now recognizing that many of the existing devices used by the profession do not realistically simulate the in-service conditions of most geotextiles and industrial textiles. To remain a leader in these fields, and to significantly improve its laboratory infrastructure it is critical that the University develop and acquire state-of-the-art test equipment.Attempting to address this need, the University established a laboratory maintenance andequipment upgrade program. Accordingly, this award focuses on development and fabrication of a major test device that will greatly enhance the experimental capabilities of geosynthetic and fibrous materials researchers. This highly versatile devise will be capable of assessing geosynthetic and fibrous material behavior under confined or unconfined conditions in uniaxial, biaxial, or axisymetric tension. The device will be able to perform both monotonic and cyclic tests over a range of strain rates and frequencies (creep to seismic rates) and under loading conditions that closely replicate those experienced over a range of in-service conditions.