Analysis and Design of Geotextile-Reinforced Earth Walls - Parametric Study and Preliminary Design Method

Details

• Creators:
  Wu, Jonathan T. H. ; Lin, J. C.
• Corporate Creators:
  University of Colorado at Denver
• Corporate Contributors:
  Colorado. Department of Transportation ; United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  • Backfilling
  • Computer programs
  • Depth
  • Design methods
  • Earth walls
  • Facings
  • Finite element method
  • Foundations
  • Geosynthetics
  • Geotextiles
  More +
• Publication/ Report Number:
  CDOT-UCD-R-91-12
• Resource Type:
  Tech Report
• Geographical Coverage:
  United States ; Colorado
• Edition:
  Final Report
• Corporate Publisher:
  Colorado. Department of Transportation
• Description:
  A parametric study was undertaken to investigate the effects of material properties, geosynthetic configurations, underlying foundations, and facings on the performance of geosynthetic reinforced retaining walls. The parametric study was conducted by using a finite element program SSCOMP. The program had been validated through comparisons with field measurement of many different earth structures. The effects of the following parameters on the performance of geosynthetic-reinforced retaining walls were investigated: the backfill stiffness and strength; the geosynthetic stiffness; the geosynthetic length; the geosynthetic layer spacing; the foundation stiffness and strength; the foundation depth; the surcharge pressure; and the facing rigidity. In view of the complexity of the performance of the walls as affected by the factors investigated, and increasing availability of computers to design engineers, a computer-based design procedure is proposed. The design method involves execution of two computer programs, GSWALL and SSCOMP. The program GSWALL is used to obtain a trial design. The program SSCOMP, which is capable of accommodating all of the above-mentioned factors, is used subsequently to calculate the detailed response of the wall, including wall movements and tensile forces induced in the geosynthetic. The trial design should be modified, using the findings of the parametric study as a guide, until an acceptable design is secured.
• Format:
  PDF
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/93960/dot_93960_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 8.42 MB]
• Collection(s):
  US Transportation Collection
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:d0d5a7edb03318d6677274db3c1806c8aa00c24066ba133ec9de5a6a1812b7399eebf9c4cd649b8c2e5cbd4a9605e50e14bb73cde6009195ff828da616218bec