• Geomechanics and Engineering
• /
• v.31 no.6
• /
• pp.599-614
• /
• 2022

One of the methods of stabilizing retaining walls, embankments, and deep excavations is the implementation of plate anchors (like the Geolock wall anchor systems). Back-to-back Mechanically Stabilized Earth (BBMSE) walls are common stabilized earth structures that can be used for bridge ramps. But so far, the analysis of the interactive behavior of two back-to-back anchored walls (BBAW) by double-plates anchors (constructed closely from each other and subjected to the limited-breadth vertical loading) including interference of their failure and sliding surfaces has not been the subject of comprehensive studies. Indeed, in this compound system, the interaction of sliding wedges of these two back-to-back walls considering the shear failure wedge of the foundation, significantly impresses on the foundation bearing capacity, adjacent walls displacements and deformations, and their stability. In this study, the effect of horizontal distance between two walls (W), breadth of loading plate (B), and position of vertical loading was investigated experimentally. In addition, the comparison of using single and equivalent double-plate anchors was evaluated. The loading plate bearing capacity and displacements, and deformations of BBAW were measured and the results are presented. To evaluate the shape, form, and how the critical failure surfaces of the soil behind the walls and beneath the foundation intersect with one another, the Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) technique was applied. The experimental tests results showed that in this composite system (two adjacent-loaded BBAW) the effective distance of walls is about W = 2.5*H (H: height of walls) and the foundation effective breadth is about B = H, concerning foundation bearing capacity, walls horizontal displacements and their deformations. For more amounts of W and B, the foundation and walls can be designed and analyzed individually. Besides, in this compound system, the foundation bearing capacity is an exponential function of the System Geometry Variable (SGV) whereas walls displacements are a quadratic function of it. Finally, as an important achievement, doubling the plates of anchors can facilitate using concrete walls, which have limitations in tolerating curvature.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
• /
• v.25 no.12
• /
• pp.131-142
• /
• 2009

Geosynthetic reinforced soil walls are well recognized alternatives to conventional retaining walls due to many advantages in terms of ease of construction, economy, and aesthetics, among others. In recent years, the use of back-to-back (BTB) geosynthetic reinforced soil walls has been increasing for roadway and railway construction. However, there are insufficient studies concerning the behavior of BTB type geosynthetic reinforced soil walls. In this study a series of finite element analysis were performed for BTB walls with various wall geometry and reinforcement distribution. The results were then analyzed to relate the wall geometry and reinforcement distribution and the performance of BTB walls. Optimum reinforcement pattern was also investigated.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
• /
• v.36 no.12
• /
• pp.69-76
• /
• 2020

Since the mechanically stabilized earth walls have a form of retaining wall compatible with a narrow section, the geogrid overlaps according to the separation distance between the walls. There is a problem that the overall behavior may occur in the state of being integrated with the stress change due to the interaction of the geogrid. Therefore, a careful approach is required at the design stage, but there are currently no design criteria or guidelines in Korea. This study investigated the optimal reinforcement length ratio according to the retaining wall width to height ratio (width to height ratio, Wb/H) for these back-to-back mechanically stabilized earth walls. Retaining wall width ratio is 1.1H, 1.4H, 1.7H, 2.0H for Case II of the FHWA design standard, and the height is 3.0 m, 5.0 m, 7.0 m, and 10.0 m, which are most commonly applied. Through numerical analysis, the appropriateness of the FHWA design standard and the optimal reinforcement length ratio according to the height of the retaining wall and the width of the retaining wall were proposed.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
• /
• 2008.03a
• /
• pp.251-258
• /
• 2008

The use of reinforced earth walls in permanent structures is getting it's popularity. Despite a number of advantages of reinforced earth walls over conventional concrete retaining walls, there exit concerns over long-term residual deformation when subjected to repeated and/or cyclic loads, during their service period. In this investigation, the effect of preloading in reducing long term residiual deformation of back-to-back reinforced soil wall under sustained and/or repeated loading enviormentment using a series of reduced-scale model tests. It is found that the preloading technique can be an effective means of controlling residual deformations of reinforced soils under varisous loading conditions.

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

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
• /
• v.24 no.6
• /
• pp.101-116
• /
• 2008

The use of reinforced earth walls id permanent structures is getting its popularity. Despite a number of advantages of reinforced earth walls over conventional concrete retaining walls, there exists concerns over long-term residual deformations when subjected to repeated and/or cyclic loads, during their service period. In this investigation, the effects of pre-loading in reducing long term residual deformation of reinforced soil structures under sustained and/or repeated loading environment are investigated using a series of reduced-scale model tests. A model pier and a back-to-back (BTB) reinforced soil structures were constructed and tested under various loading and backfilling conditions. The results indicate that the pre-loading technique can be an effective means of controlling residual deformations of reinforced soils under various loading conditions.

• Earthquakes and Structures
• /
• v.16 no.2
• /
• pp.209-219
• /
• 2019

Unbonded Post-Tensioned (UPT) precast concrete systems have been shown to provide excellent seismic resistance. In order to improve understanding of the dynamic response of UPT systems, a series of snap back tests on four UPT systems was undertaken consisting of one Single Rocking Wall (SRW) and three Precast Wall with End Columns (PreWEC) systems. The snap back tests provided both a static pushover and a nonlinear free vibration response of a system. As expected the SRW exhibited an approximate bi-linear inertia force-drift response during the free vibration decay and the PreWEC walls showed an inertia force-drift response with increased strength and energy dissipation due to the addition of steel O-connectors. All walls exhibited negligible residual drifts regardless of the number of O-connectors or the post-tensioning force. When PreWEC systems of the same strength were compared the inclusion of further energy dissipating O-connectors was found to decrease the measured peak wall acceleration. Both the local and global wall parameters measured at pseudo-static and dynamic loading rates showed similar behaviour, which demonstrates that the dynamic behaviour of UPT walls is well represented by pseudo-static tests. The SRW was found to have Equivalent Viscous Damping (EVD) between 0.9-3.8% and the three PreWEC walls were found to have maximum EVD of between 14.7-25.8%.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
• /
• v.25 no.9
• /
• pp.19-27
• /
• 2009

In order to investigate anti-freeze process of precast concrete L-type retaining walls in cold regions, test walls were installed in the campus of Kitami Institute of Technology (KIT, Hokkaido, Japan). The wall consists of following three sections, i) back filled with frost susceptible clay soil, ii) using thermal insulation material, and back filled with frost susceptible soil, iii) back filled with frost-unsusceptible soil. The freezing front distribution and ground temperature within the backfill were observed and deflections of the walls were measured over three freeze-thaw seasons. Some understanding of the mechanisms of the build-up of frost heave pressure was gained, and the effectiveness of replacement method was observed. A simulation was performed to predict the shape of the freezing front in the backfill behind L-type walls with various cross sections. These findings were employed to propose a method for determining the appropriate zone to be replaced with frost unsusceptible backfill material in cold regions.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
• /
• v.17 no.4
• /
• pp.601-613
• /
• 2007

It is reported that factors affecting the behavior of reinforced earth retaining walls built on soft ground are not only basic physical properties but also the increase of load by the reinforced earth retaining walls, consolidation period, pore water pressure, etc. This study analyzed the behavior of reinforced earth retaining walls and soft ground using SAGE CRISP, a ground analysis program. First, we examined the effect of the replacement method, which was to prevent the excessive displacement of reinforced earth retaining walls, in improving the behavior of the walls. Second, we compared and analyzed how the behavior of ground is affected by the vertical interval of stiffeners on the back of reinforced earth retaining walls after the application of the replacement method. Lastly, we proposed the optimal replacement width and depth in the application of the replacement method. The results of this study proved that the replacement method is considerably effective in improving the behavior of reinforced earth retaining walls. In addition, the vertical interval of stiffeners on the back of reinforced earth retaining walls appeared effective in improving the horizontal displacement of the top of retaining walls but not much effective in improving the vertical displacement of the back of retaining walls. In addition, improvement in horizontal-vertical displacement resulting from the increase in replacement width was not significant and this suggests that the increase of replacement width is not necessary. With regard to an adequate replacement depth, we proposed the ratio of replacement depth to the height of retaining walls(D/H) according to the ratio of the thickness of the soft layer to the height of retaining walls(H/T).

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
• /
• v.24 no.12
• /
• pp.41-52
• /
• 2008

This paper concerns the load carrying capacity of back-to-back reinforced soil wall for use in roadway and railway construction. Two test conditions, designed with due consideration of the FHW A design guideline, were first developed and a number of cases having different reinforcement lengths were tested under a surchage loading until failure. The results indicated that for cases in which two sides of reinforcements do not overlap, the wall behavior was similar to those of single wall. For cases in which the reinforcements overlap each other, on the other hand, the load carrying capacity of the wall significantly decreased when reinforced with reinforcement layers having lengths less than 50% of the wall height.