• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.53-66
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• 2007

A series of model tests were performed to investigate the soil arching effect in embankments supported by piles with geosynthetics. In the model tests, model piles with isolated cap were inserted through the holes in a steel plate, which could be operated up and down. Then geosynthetics was laid on the pile caps below sand fills. The settlement of soft ground was simulated by lowering the plate. As the plate was lowered, the soil arching was mobilized in the embankments. The deformation of both the sand fills and geosynthetics were captured by camera. Also the loads acting on pile cap and the tensile strain of geosynthetics were monitored by data logging system. Model tests showed that the embankment loads transferred on pile cap by soil arching Increased rapidly with settlement of the soft ground. In case of the absence of geosynthetics, the loads acting on pile caps dropped to residual value after peak value, whereas loads on pile caps gradually increased until constant value in case of geosynthetic-reinforced. This illustrated that reinforcing with the geosynthetics has a good effect to restrain the settlement of embankments. Also, the deformation shape of geosynthetics between pile caps was circular. The embankment loads transferred on pile caps can be estimated by considering both soil arching and tensile strain of geosynthetics in embankments supported by piles with geosynthetics.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.263-281
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• 2013

Geotextiles and geogrids have been in use for several decades in variety of geo-structure applications including foundation of embankments, retaining walls, pavements. Geocells is one such variant in geosynthetic reinforcement of recent years, which provides a three dimensional confinement to the infill material. Although extensive research has been carried on geocell reinforced sand, clay and layered soil subgrades, limited research has been reported on the aggregates/ballast reinforced with geocells. This paper presents the behavior of a railway sleeper subjected to monotonic loading on geocell reinforced aggregates, of size ranging from 20 to 75 mm, overlying soft clay subgrades. Series of tests were conducted in a steel test tank of dimensions $700mm{\times}300mm{\times}700mm$. In addition to the laboratory model tests, numerical simulations were performed using a finite difference code to predict the behavior of geocell reinforced ballast. The results from numerical simulations were compared with the experimental data. The numerical and experimental results manifested the importance that the geocell reinforcement has a significant effect on the ballast behaviour. The results depicted that the stiffness of underlying soft clay subgrade has a significant influence on the behavior of the geocell-aggregate composite material in redistributing the loading system.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.105-131
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• 2014

In this paper, the effects of variability of smear zone characteristics induced by installation of prefabricated vertical drains on the preloading design are investigated employing analytical and numerical approaches. Conventional radial consolidation theory has been adopted to conduct analytical parametric studies considering variations of smear zone permeability and extent. FLAC 2D finite difference software has been employed to conduct the numerical simulations. The finite difference analyses have been verified using three case studies including two embankments and a large-scale laboratory consolidometer with a central geosynthetic vertical drain. A comprehensive numerical parametric study is conducted to investigate the influence of smear zone permeability and extent on the model predictions. Furthermore, the construction of the trial embankment is recommended as a reliable solution to estimate accurate smear zone properties and minimise the post construction settlement. A back-calculation procedure is employed to determine the minimum required waiting time after construction of the trial embankment to predict the smear zone characteristics precisely. Results of this study indicate that the accurate smear zone permeability and extent can be back-calculated when 30% degree of consolidation is obtained after construction of the trial embankment.

• Journal of the Korean Geosynthetics Society
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.27-36
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• 2004

This paper presents the results of stability analyses on soil-reinforced segmental retaining walls in a tiered arrangement. Four different 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 also performed based on the method recommended by FHWA design guidelines. Also presented are the results of instrumentation on a full-scale field trial wall constructed as part of this study. The implications of the findings from this study are discussed.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.165-173
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• 2019

Plate anchors are generally used for structures like transmission towers, mooring systems etc. where the uplift and lateral forces are expected to be predominant. The capacity of anchor plate can be increased by the use of geosynthetics without altering the size of plates. Numerical simulations have been carried out on three different sizes of square anchor plates. A single layer geosynthetic has been used as reinforcement in the analysis and placed at three different positions from the plate. The effects of various parameters like embedment ratio, position of reinforcement, width of reinforcement, frequency and loading amplitude on the pull out capacity have been presented in this study. The load-displacement behaviour of anchors for various embedment ratios with and without reinforcement has been also observed. The pull out load, corresponding to a displacement equal to each of the considered maximum amplitudes of a given frequency, has been expressed in terms of a dimensionless breakout factor. The pull out load for all anchors has been found to increase by more than 100% with embedment ratio varying from 1 to 6. Finally a semi empirical formulation for breakout factor for square anchors in reinforced soil has also been proposed by carrying out regression analysis on the data obtained from numerical simulations.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.15-29
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• 1999

This study presents an analytical method of estimating the developed horizontal active thrusts against GRS-RW( Geosynthetic Reinforced Soil Retaining Wall) system adapted to the case of distanced surcharge. In addition, the design charts that could be used for preliminary design of GRS-RW system are presented. The proposed method of analysis uses two body translation mechanism as well as force polygon concept. taking into account the effect of facing's rigidity. Besides. the effect of tension cracks in c-\Phi$ soils, seismic effects and horizontal distance from the back face of wall to uniformly distributed surcharge loadings are also included. The results of horizontal active thrusts obtained from the developed method of analysis are compared with those from Jarquio's modified Boussinesq equation.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.757-774
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• 2016

Soils are usually weak in tension therefore different materials such as geosynthetics are used to address this inadequacy. Worldwide annual consumption of geosynthetics is close to $1000million\;m^2$, and the value of these materials is probably close to US$1500 million. Since the total cost of the construction is at least four or five times the cost of the geosynthetic itself, the impact of these materials on civil engineering construction is very large indeed. Nevertheless, there are several significant problems associated with geosynthetics, such as creep, low modulus of elasticity, and susceptibility to aggressive environment. Carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) was introduced over two decades ago in the field of structural engineering that can also be used in geotechnical engineering. CFRP has all the benefits associated with geosynthetics and it boasts higher strength, higher modulus, no significant creep and reliability in aggressive environments. In this paper, the performance of a CFRP reinforced retaining wall is investigated using the finite element method. Since the characterization of behavior of soils and interfaces are vital for reliable prediction from the numerical model, soil and interface properties are obtained from comprehensive laboratory tests. Based on the laboratory results for CFRP, backfill soil, and interface data, the finite element model is used to study the behavior of a CFRP reinforced wall. The finite element model was verified based on the results of filed measurements for a reference wall. Then the reference wall simulated by CFRP reinforcements and the results. The results of this investigations showed that the safety factor of CFRP reinforced wall is more and its deformations is less than those for a retaining wall reinforced with ordinary geosynthetics while their construction costs are in similar range.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.13-21
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• 2006

Geosynthetic damage has attracted a major attention since the introduction of geotextiles for civil engineering applications. In this study 3 pilot trial embankments were carried out to investigate the behaviours of reinforced embankments over soft cohesive soils and to find the optimum methodology of embankments over soft soils. As the seamed part of polyester mat (PET, tensile strength 15 ton) used in the first full-scale field test was ruptured under progressing rotational slope failure because of unexpectedly rapid construction of embankments, the excessive pore water pressures were measured. On the soil behavior where tension explosion of mat was continued, pore pressure larger than the one caused by embankment height was measured. Especially, at the depth of 5.0 m under the ground pore pressure increased over long term. It was discussed with respect to the height of embankment and heaving behavior of soft soils.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.21 no.8
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• pp.107-116
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• 2005

Generally, when the stability of the geosynthetic reinforced soil slopes is analyzed, the required tensile forces of each reinforcement layers are calculated from total reinforcement forces which are necessary to retain the equilibrium state of slip mass in which the slip surfaces are assumed to be a linear or bilinear. It is assumed that the reinforcement forces are increased or constant with depth. However, according to the instrumented field data and laboratory model test results, the maximum tensile strain of reinforcement in a reinforced soil slope is developed in a certain elevation, not a bottom of the slope. In the concept of reinforced soil, postulated failure surfaces are the traces of the position in which the reinforcement tensile forces are maximum in the layer, and the reinforcement tensile forces are related to the stress state on the postulated failure surface. Therefore, in this study, based on the distribution of normal stress on the slip surface, a new method for the evaluation of required tensile forces is suggested and a number of the instrumented field data are analyzed by newly suggested method. As a result, it is shown that the newly suggested method produces relatively accurate reinforcement tension forces.

• Journal of the Korean Geosynthetics Society
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.13-21
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• 2002

Geotextile tubes hydraulically or mechanically filled with dredged materials have been applied in hydraulic and coastal engineering in recent years(detached breakwater, groins and jetty). The geotextile tubes are made of sewn geosynthetics sheets. If the sandy soil is use to fill material, these inlets should be spaced closely to assure uniform filling of the tubes because sandy soil and geosynthetic is very pervious. However, the clayey soil or contaminated slurry is used, the inlets can be located relatively long distance. The fine clayey particles tend to rapidly blind the fabric slowing down water escape through the geotextile. This paper presents a field test result of a geotextile tube in the land reclamation project for the Songdo New City construction site. The dredged silty clay was dredged by the dredging ship and hydraulically pumped into the geotextile tube. The height of geotextile tube was measured at every filling stage and also measured width and diameter of geotextile tube with the elapsed time. Based on the test results, if the clayey filling material is used, the pumping step must be divided 3~4 stages for drainage and sediment. After complete drainage, the height of the geotextile tube reduces by approximately 50%.