Experimental and Computational Evaluation of Pullout Response of Steel Rod Pipe Reinforcement with Embossed and Debossed Surface Features

Abstract Mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) construction presents a viable approach for the effective utilization of space, particularly in the design and stabilization of slopes and embankments. This research examines the behavior of a steel pipe that incorporates embossed and debossed surface patterns around its circumference. To study the influence of surface feature characteristics such as orientation, length, and spacing on the pullout performance of reinforcement with alternating embossed and debossed features, the investigation combined a physical model test using a two-dimensional carbon rod geometry and a three-dimensional sand box setup, together with numerical simulations. Both experimental and numerical findings show that maintaining proper spacing between surface features is essential to ensuring sufficient reinforcement. The study demonstrated that incorporating embossed and debossed surface features significantly improved pullout resistance. Compared with smooth-surface steel pipes, pullout resistance of embossed/debossed steel pipes increased by 62.9%–140.2% in physical tests and 86.5%–238.4% in simulations, depending on feature length and spacing. These results demonstrate the effectiveness of optimized surface features in enhancing soil reinforcement and highlight the potential of high-strength metal reinforcements to overcome the tensile limits of conventional geogrids, advancing the design of MSE structures.