Strap reinforcement is very commonly used as reinforcement material in mechanically stabilized earth walls (MSEW). Metal straps are mostly used as reinforcement material. However, in humid climates, where the risk of damage to metal straps due to corrosion is high, the use of geosynthetic straps is quite justified. In the Croatian coastal region, geosynthetic straps were used as reinforcement for two very high MSEWs. In both cases, the backfill material crushed stone aggregate from the neighboring site was used. According to the relevant standards, it is recommended that the backfill material should have a uniformity coefficient of Cu ≥ 4.0. To meet these requirements, it is usually necessary to sieve and crush the backfill material. To evaluate the influence of the uniformity coefficient on the friction interaction coefficient between a geosynthetic strap and a crushed stone aggregate, a series of pullout tests with different confining stresses and aggregate grain size distributions were conducted. The pullout tests were performed for three different uniformity coefficients of the crushed stone aggregate. The results confirmed the justification to use backfill material with a uniformity coefficient higher than 4.0. The pullout tests were performed with one strap, two closely spaced straps, and two separated straps. The results showed that lateral friction contributes to the pullout force in the amount of 16.1% of the total force.

After the adoption of the National Program for the Implementation of the Strategy for the Management of Radioactive Waste Used Resources and Spent Nuclear Fuel, by the Government of the Republic of Croatia, the issue of radioactive waste management in Croatia became current. Slovene-Croatian co-ownership over the Krgko nuclear power plant (KNPP) means that half of the operational and decommissioning waste, as well as spent nuclear fuel (SNF) belongs to Croatia. Until now, SNF has been kept in a pool at KNPP, and dry storage before disposal is also planned. A generic project of a SNF repository has been developed and has already undergone a second revision and review. The project idea involves site selection in both countries and the conceptual solution of the SKB-3V type in crystalline rock. This paper presents an estimate of the thermal-hydro-mechanical effects (THME) of the SNF repository in crystalline rock (granodiorite) of SKB-3V concept by developing a numerical model in the SIGMA/W, SEEP/W and TEMP/W software. Simulations have shown that it is possible to construct a SNF repository in the crystalline rocks of Croatia or Slovenia, that the generic repository project is well-designed and that a model of hydro-thermo-mechanical effects of spent nuclear fuel on the rock in Croatia/Slovenia can be produced, which proves the suitability of the rock mass for this purpose.

The hydraulic permeability of soils is commonly determined by numerous testing methods that are currently available for laboratory and field measurements. However, the aforementioned test methods are not completely appropriate for the gas permeability measurements of soils. There is a growing interest in gas permeability determination mostly for environmental applications and also for geotechnical engineering in general. Special attention is paid to large quantities of biogas produced in landfills. Geosynthetic clay liners (GCLs) have already been recognised as a highly effective hydraulic barrier, but there has also been a growing interest in assessing the efficiency of GCLs as a gas barrier. The objective of this paper is to develop a simple method for gas permeability testing of GCL samples and bentonite in a triaxial device, comparable with the standard testing methods for hydraulic permeability determination. The first part of the testing procedure comprised eight samples of various soil types, in order to compare the obtained values with similar published test results – that is, to confirm the method. The paper highlights the advantages of the proposed method and suggests some guidelines for further research aimed at improving it.

The angle of repose (AoR) is critical for studying granular materials in mining, geotechnical engineering, pharmaceuticals, and agriculture. Accurate AoR measurements are essential for understanding material stability and movement. The descriptor includes photographs of 86 heaps of rock materials dolomite, quartz sand, marble, and gravel. In addition, photographs of 1 ideal cone and 4 CAD drawing models are provided. These images are processed using specialized software to create detailed 2D and 3D models of the heaps. The generated STL and point-cloud models can be used to calculate the AoR with high accuracy, taking into account the complex surface morphology that traditional methods may overlook. Additionally, these models enable standardized comparisons and can be used for calibration purposes. This data facilitates the development and validation of new AoR measurement methods, enhancing the reliability and consistency of granular material analysis.