United States Department of Transportation
i
Mechanically Stabilized Earth (MSE) Wall Backfill Water Infiltration
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2021-06-21
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[PDF-5.66 MB]
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Edition:Final Report 2018-2021
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Abstract:The stability of Mechanically Stabilized Earth (MSE) walls may be compromised in undrained conditions such as during heavy rain, flooding, or rapid drawdown. For MSE walls potentially subject to inundation, such as those located adjacent to rivers, canals, detention basins or retention basins, understanding pore pressure evolution during infiltration and drainage of the backfill soils and the corresponding implications to wall stability is essential. In this research, a complimentary program of full-scale physical model tests and numerical computer simulations was conducted to quantify infiltration, drainage and corresponding stability of MSE walls subject to flooding and rapid drawdown. Two full-scale MSE walls were constructed at an indoor geostructure testing facility located at the Royal Military College of Canada. Relatively fine and relatively coarse sand, both falling withing grain-size design specifications, were used as backfill soils in the two tests. Instrumentation was installed to measure pore pressure distribution, moisture content distribution, strain in the reinforcement layers, connection loads, wall deflections, horizontal and vertical toe loads, and earth pressures during flooding and rapid drawdown. Numerical simulations were carried out using model geometry and material properties calibrated to match the full-scale physical test results. Stability analyses were conducted to evaluate stability of the MSE wall and calculate factors of safety during infiltration and drawdown. Parametric studies were conducted to examine how backfill hydraulic conductivity, flood height, and length of the backfill affect time to backfill saturation and wall stability during flooding and drawdown. A series of generalized charts are provided for estimating the extent and timing of infiltration or drainage from flooding/drawdown and corresponding impacts to wall stability.
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