• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.21 no.10
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• pp.49-60
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• 2005

This paper presents the results of an investigation on the effects of design variables on the behavior of geosynthetic-reinforced modular block walls in a tiered arrangement using the finite-element method of numerical analysis. A parametric study was performed by varying the offset distance between the tiers and reinforcement length of the lower and upper tier using verified finite-element model. The finite-element analysis provided relevant information on the mechanical behavior of the tier wall and interaction mechanism between the upper and lower tier, which was otherwise difficult to obtain from the limit-equilibrium analysis based current design approaches. Practical implications of the findings obtained from this study in the current design approaches are discussed in great detail.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.10 no.5
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• pp.635-655
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• 2016

The effects of reinforcement on the horizontal and vertical deformations of geosynthetic reinforced retaining walls are investigated under a well-known seismic load (San Jose earthquake, 1955). Retaining walls are designed with internal and external stability (with appropriate factor of safety) and deformation is chosen as the main parameter for describing the wall behavior under seismic load. Retaining walls with various heights (6, 8, 10, 12 and 14 meter) are optimized for geosynthetics arrangement, and modeled with a finite element method. The stress-strain behavior of the walls under a well-known loading type, which has been used by many previous researchers, is investigated. A comparison is made between the reinforced and non-reinforced systems to evaluate the effect of reinforcement on decreasing the deformation of the retaining walls. The results show that the reinforcement system significantly controls the deformation of the top and middle of the retaining walls, which are the critical points under dynamic loading. It is shown that the optimized reinforcement system in retaining walls under the studied seismic loading could decrease horizontal and vertical deformation up to 90% and 40% respectively.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.115-125
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• 2003

This paper presents the results of design case study on soil-reinforced segmental retaining walls in tiered configuration. Six different field walls were examined to investigate the appropriateness of their designs within the context of the current design guidelines based on limit equilibrium. Slope stability analysis against the compound failure mode, which is frequently ignored during design, was additionally performed based on the method recommended by FHWA design guidelines. The results indicate that the as-built designs of some of the walls examined do not meet the minimum factors of safety for the external and Internal stabilities, and for the compound failure mode. The implications of the findings from this study are discussed.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2005.03a
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• pp.207-215
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• 2005

This paper presents a case history of a geosynthetics-reinforced segmental retaining wall, which collapsed during a sever rainfall immediately after the completion of the wall construction. In an attempt to identify possible causes for the collapse, a comprehensive investigation was carried out including physical and strength tests on the backfill, stability analyses on the as-built design based on the current design approaches, and slope stability analyses with pore pressure consideration. The investigation revealed that the inappropriate as-built design and the bad-quality backfill were mainly responsible for the collapse. This paper describes the site condition including wall design, details of the results of investigation and finally, lessons learned. Practical significance of the findings from this study is also discussed.

• Journal of the Korean Geosynthetics Society
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.55-66
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• 2011

This paper presents the results of an investigation on the failure mechanism of geosynthetic reinforced soil walls in back-to-back configuration using 1-g reduced-scale model tests as well as discrete element method-based numerical investigation. In the 1-g reduced scale model tests, 1/10 scale back-to-back walls were constructed so that the wall can be brought to failure by its own weight and the effect of reinforcement length on the failure mechanism was investigated. In addition, a validated discrete element method-based numerical model was used to further investigate the failure mechanism of back-to-back walls with different boundary conditions. The results were then compared with the failure mechanisms defined in the FHWA design guideline.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.195-205
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• 2021

Time effect on the deformation and strength characteristics of geogrid reinforced sand retaining wall has become an important issue in geotechnical and transportation engineering. Three physical model tests on geogrid reinforced sand retaining walls performed under various loading conditions were simulated to study their rate-dependent behaviors, using the presented nonlinear finite element method (FEM) analysis procedure. This FEM was based on the dynamic relaxation method and return mapping scheme, in which the combined effects of the rate-dependent behaviors of both the backfill soil and the geosynthetic reinforcement have been included. The rate-dependent behaviors of sands and geogrids should be attributed to the viscous property of materials, which can be described by the unified three-component elasto-viscoplastic constitutive model. By comparing the FEM simulations and the test results, it can be found that the present FEM was able to be successfully extended to the boundary value problems of geosynthetic reinforced soil retaining walls. The deformation and strength characteristics of the geogrid reinforced sand retaining walls can be well reproduced. Loading rate effect, the trends of jump in footing pressure upon the step-changes in the loading rate, occurred not only on sands and geogrids but also on geogrid reinforced sands retaining walls. The lateral earth pressure distributions against the back of retaining wall, the local tensile force in the geogrid arranged in the retaining wall and the local stresses beneath the footing under various loading conditions can also be predicted well in the FEM simulations.

• Journal of the Korean Geosynthetics Society
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.19-28
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• 2005

This paper presents a laboratory investigation on the failure mechanism of geosynthetic reinforced slopes using 1/5-scale reduced model. The components of the model were selected with due consideration of the similitude law and the step-by-step actual wall construction procedure was closely simulated. The model tests successfully replicated the failure mechanism with relative density, slope and vertical spacing.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 2001.09a
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• pp.208-211
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• 2001

Geosynthetic Clay Liners (GCLs) have been used for the applications of the hydraulic containment system in landfill due to inexpensive costs, simple workability and distinguished ability as a barrier material. However, bentonite of GCLs is easy to be damaged by the chemical solutions. Thus, there is a need to evaluate the potential susceptibility of GCLs causing Increase the hydraulic conductivity when GCLs are exposed to raw leachate and dissolved humic substances from landfill leachate. The hydraulic conductivity tests were performed with flexible-wall permeameter (the falling -headwater/rising -tailwater procedure) in order to verify the potential susceptibility of GCLs. The values of the hydraulic conductivity conducted with raw leachate as a permeant liquid increased considerably; however, The change of the hydraulic conductivity in the case of humic and fulvic acid were not worthy of notice. As the results of swelling tests of bentonite, however, humic substances can affect badly on the dispersion behavior of bentonite. These results indicate that humic substances dissolved in leachate could reduce the hydraulic conductivity of GCLs in landfill.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2008.10a
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• pp.176-183
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• 2008

This paper highlights the importance of carrying out global slope stability analysis as part of design calculations for geosynethetic walls in tiered configuration. Four design case histories were selected to examine the appropriateness of their design by performing additional slope stability analyses using the shear strength reduction method with in the frame work of finite element analysis. The results indicated that all of the walls examined, which were designed to meet the current design guide lines, did not satisfy the global slope stability requirement, and that longer reinforcements are required in the upper tiers to achieve the minimum factor of safety. Practical implications of the findings are discussed.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.171-191
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• 1999

The final aim of this research is to systematize the reinforced-earth wall system using the geosynthetic composite reinforcement in the weathered granite backfill soils having relatively large amount of fines. As a staged endeavour to accomplish this purpose, laboratory pull-out tests and finite element modeling are carried out in the present study focusing on the analyses of friction characteristics associated with interaction behaviors of the geosynthetic composite reinforcement composed of geogrid with a superior function in tensile resistance and geotextile with sufficient drainage effects. In addition, drainage effects of the geotextile below geogrid are examined based on the analysis of finite difference numerical modeling. From the present investigation, it is concluded that the geosynthetic composite reinforcement in the weathered granite backfills may possibly be used to achieve effects on both a reduction of deformations and an increase of the tensile resistance, together with drainage effects resulting from the geotextile.