Evaluation of Geosynthetic Forces in GRSRW under Dynamic Condition

Authors: Kooshyar Passbakhsh, Maryam Yazdi

Abstract:

Geosynthetics have proved to be suitable for reinforced soil retaining walls. Based on the increasing uses of geosynthetic reinforced soil systems in the regions, which bear frequent earthquakes, the study of dynamic behavior of structures seems necessary. Determining the reinforcement forces is; therefore, one of the most important and main points of discussions in designing retaining walls, by which we prevent from conservative planning. Thus, this paper intended to investigate the effects of such parameters as wall height, acceleration type, vertical spacing of reinforcement, type of reinforcement and soil type on forces and deformation through numerical modeling of the geosynthetic reinforced soil retaining walls (GRSRW) under dynamic loading with finite difference method by using FLAC. The findings indicate rather positive results with each parameter.

Keywords: Geosynthetic Reinforced Soil Retaining Walls (GRSRW), dynamic analysis, Geosynthetic forces, Flac

Digital Object Identifier (DOI): doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1082063

References:

[1] Ho, S.K., Rowe, R.K., 1996. Effect of wall geometry on the behavior of reinforced soil walls. Geotextiles and Geomembranes 14 (10), 521-541.
[2] Hatami, K., Bathurst, R.J., Di Pietro, P., 2001. Static response of reinforced soil retaining walls with non-uniform reinforcement. International Journal of Geomechanics 1 (4), 477-506.
[3] Hatami, K., Bathurst, R.J., 2005. Development and verification of a numerical model for the analysis of geosynthetic reinforced soil segmental walls under working stress conditions. Canadian Geotechnical Journal 42 (4), 1066-1085.
[4] Hatami, K., Bathurst, R.J., 2006. A numerical model for reinforced soil segmental walls under surcharge loading. ASCE Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering 132 (6), 673-684.
[5] Al Hattamleh, O., Muhunthan, B., 2006. Numerical procedures for deformation calculations in the reinforced soil walls. Geotextiles and Geomembranes 24 (1), 52-57.
[6] Allen, T.M., Bathurst, R.J., Holtz, R.D., Walters, D.L., Lee, W.F., 2003. A new working stress method for prediction of reinforcement loads in geosynthetic walls. Canadian Geotechnical Journal 40, 976-994.
[7] Bathurst, R.J., Allen, T.M., Walters, D.L., 2005. Reinforcement loads in geosynthetic walls and the case for a new working stress design method. Geotextiles and Geomembranes 23, 287-322.
[8] El-Emam. M and Bathurst, R.J. (2006) "Influence of reinforcement parameters on the seismic response of reduced-scale reinforced soil retaining walls", Geotextiles and Geomembranes, Vol 25, pp. 33-49.
[9] Sakaguchi, M.,Muramatsu, M., and Nagura, K. (1992), "A Discussion on Reinforced Embankment Structures Having High Earthquake Resistance", Proceeding of the International Symposium on Earth Reinforcement Practice, Fukuoka, Japan, Volume 1, pp. 287-292.
[10] Sakaguchi, M. (1996), "A Study of the Seismic Behavior of Geosynthetic Reinforced Walls in Japan", Geosynthetics International, 3(1), pp. 13-30.