Strain-controlled pull-out tests on bamboo culm embedded in quarry dust

A laboratory pull out test apparatus using a strain-controlled concept has been developed to study frictional characteristics of reinforcements embedded in soils. The advantages of carrying out pull out tests using this apparatus are the maximum pull out stress can be defined and effect(s) of strain softening, if any, can be observed. The concept is achieved via pulling out the reinforcement at a constant strain rate with the entire testing set-up including the data collecting is fully automated. Several series of tests have been carried out with the objectives of introducing cheaper and locally available materials. Test materials like Malaysian bamboo species, namely Bambusa blumenea (Buluh Duri) and Giganthocloa scorterchinii (Buluh Semantan) with quarry dust as backfill materials have been used in the study. The suitability of these materials for reinforced earth system in term of frictional criterion is discussed.