• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.7-19
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• 2002

This paper presents the results of an investigation on the effect of foundation stiffness on the performance of soil-reinforced segmental retaining walls (SRWalls). Laboratory model tests were performed using a reduced-scale physical model to capture the fundamentals of the manner in which the foundation stiffness affects the behavior of SRWalls. A series of finite-element analyses were additionally performed on a prototype wall in order to supplement the findings from the model tests and to examine full-scale behavior of SRWalls encountered in the field. The results of the present investigation indicate that lateral wall displacements significantly increase with the decrease of the foundation stiffness. Also revealed is that the increase in wall displacements is likely to be caused by the rigid body movement of the reinforced soil mass with negligible internal deformation within the reinforced soil mass. The findings from this study support the current design approaches, in which the problem concerning the foundation condition are treated in the frame work of the external stability rather than the internal stability. The implications of the findings from this study to current design approaches are discussed in detail.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.51-61
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• 2000

This paper reviews fundamentals of a pseudo-static seismic design/analysis method for soil-reinforced segmental retaining walls. A comparative study on NCMA and FHWA seismic design guidelines, which are one of the most well known design guidelines for mechanically stabilized earth walls, was also performed. The results demonstrate that there exist significant discrepancies in the results of external stability analysis despite the same calculation model used in the two guidelines, due primarily to different seismic coefficient selection criteria. It is also demonstrated that the internal stability calculation model for NCMA guideline tends to yield larger seismic reinforcement force in the shallower reinforcement layers, resulting in an increased number of reinforcement layers at the top of reinforced wall and increased reinforcement lengths to ensure adequate anchorage capacity. The internal stability calculation model adopted by FHWA guideline, however, leads to redistribution of dynamic force to the lower reinforcement layers and thus results n an opposite trend of NCMA guideline. Findings from this study clearly demonstrate a need for more in-depth studies to develop a generally acceptable design/analysis method.

• Journal of the Korean Geosynthetics Society
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.29-37
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• 2007

Reduction Factor for Installation Damage required for calculation of design strength of geogrid used in MSEW(mechanically stabilized earth wall) design is usually obtained in the field test simulating real construction condition. However, damages occurred in geogrid during backfill work are influenced by many factors such as polymer types, unit weight per area, backfill construction method and gradation of backfill material and field test considering these factors demands lots of time and costs. In this study, factors affecting installation damage are analyzed and empirical method for evaluating reduction factor for installation damage using maximum particle size in backfill material is suggested.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.43-61
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• 2017

The inverted T-type abutments are generally used in highway bridges constructed in Korea. This type of abutment is used because it has greater stability, with more pile foundations embedded in the bedrock, while simultaneously providing support for lateral earth pressure and vertical loads of superstructures. However, the cross section of inverted T-type abutments is large compared with the piers, which makes them more expensive. In addition, a differential settlement between the abutment and embankment, as well as the expansion joints, causes driving discomfort. This study evaluated the driving comfort of several types of abutments to improve driving comfort on the abutment. To achieve this objective, a traditional T-type abutment and three types of candidate abutments, namely, mechanically stabilized earth wall (MSEW) abutment supported by a shallow foundation (called "true MSEW abutment"), MSEW abutment supported by piles (called "mixed MSEW abutment"), and pile bent and integral abutment with MSEW (called "MIP abutment"), were selected to consider their design and economic feasibility. Finite element analysis was performed using the design section of the candidate abutments. Subsequently, the settlements of each candidate abutment, approach slabs, and paved surfaces of the bridges were reviewed. Finally, the driving comfort on each candidate abutment was evaluated using a vehicle dynamic simulation. The true MSEW abutment demonstrated the most excellent driving comfort. However, this abutment can cause problems with respect to serviceability and maintenance due to excessive settlements. After our overall review, we determined that the mixed MSEW and the MIP abutments are the most appropriate abutment types to improve driving comfort by taking the highway conditions in Korea into consideration.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.15-26
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• 2010

This paper presents the results of a three-dimensional finite element analysis on a geosynthetic-reinforced bridge abutment. Examples on the use of mechanically stabilized earth bridge abutment in north America are first presented. A three-dimensional finite element analysis on a 4.8 m high, 14 m wide geosynthetic-reinforced bridge abutment was performed to investigate the 3D behavior of the geosynthetic-reinforced bridge abutment and the load carrying capacity of the bridge abutment in the three-dimensional space. The results are then presented in a way that the three-dimensional behavior of the abutment can be identified in terms of wall displacements and reinforcement forces. It is shown that the wall facing displacements as well as the reinforcement forces in the abutment are smaller than those computed based on a plane strain approximation.

• Journal of the Korean Geosynthetics Society
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.27-35
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• 2012

Facings of mechanically stabilized earth retaining walls have function to fix the reinforcement and prevent backfill loss, but the walls are lack of structural rigidity capable of resisting applied loads. The reinforced subgrade with rigid wall was developed to have the structural functions under train loading. Though it has lots of advantages such as small deformation after construction, its negative side effects of economics and difficult construction were mainly mentioned and not practically used. To apply it for railroad subgrade, this study focus on the construction cost down and the enhancement of constructability without functional loss. To do so, the behaviors of reinforced subgrade with rigid wall were evaluated with the change of the vertical spacing and length of reinforcement. Small scale model tests (1/10 scale) and 3 m full scale tests were performed to evaluate deformation characteristics of reinforced subgrade under simulated train loading. Even though it uses short reinforcement, it showed small horizontal displacement of wall and plastic settlement of subgrade. Also, it was verified that not only 30 cm but also 40 cm of vertical spacing of reinforcement had good performance in serviceability aspects.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.399-409
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• 2018

The mechanically stabilized earth wall (MSEW) of the IPM bridge is an important structure that constitutes the bridge, and supports the horizontal earth pressure and approach slab. Therefore, it is necessary to carefully analyze the settlement of MSEW of the IPM bridge. This study examined the settlement according to the height and ground stiffness on the MSEW on the IPM Bridge. According to the design guideline, the IPM Bridge (2016) was designed to have a height of 4.0 ~ 10.0m and the elastic settlement was calculated. The base area and the grounding pressure of the MSE wall increased linearly with the height, and the elastic settlement also increased linearly. In addition, the stiffness of the foundations satisfying the allowable settlement of the approach slab is a N value of 35 or more. The settlement of finite element analysis was estimated to be smaller than the elastic settlement, and the stiffness of the foundation ground satisfied the allowable settlement of the approach slab above N value of 20. Because the elastic settlement of the MSEW of the IPM Bridge was overestimated, it will be necessary to examine it carefully by finite element analysis.

• Journal of the Korean Geosynthetics Society
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.33-40
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• 2018

Characteristics of interface friction between cohesionless soils and geotechnical structure surfaces play an important role in the analysis of earth load and resistance on the structure. In general, geotechnical structures are mainly composed of either steel or concrete, and their surface roughnesses with respect to soil particle sizes influence the interface characteristics between soils and the structures. Accurate assessment of the interface friction characteristics between soils and structures is important to ensure the safety of geotechnical structures, such as mechanically stabilized earth walls reinforced with inextensible reinforcements, piles embedded into soils, retaining wall backfilled with soils. In this study, based on the database of high quality interface friction tests between frictional soils and solid surfaces from literature, equation representing peak interface friction angle is proposed. The influential factors of the peak interface friction angle are relative roughness between soil and solid surface, relative density of frictional soil, and residual (constant volume) interface friction angle. Futhermore, for the developed equation of the interface friction angle, its uncertainty was assessed statistically based on Goodness-of-fit test results.