• 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 Society of Safety
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.48-54
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• 2009

Structures to support against slop failures or resist earth pressure like masonry retaining walls or retaining walls have continued to advance and evolve to new eco-friendly, easy-to-construct, crib retaining walls with varied forms and construction methods, meeting the needs of the times. Researches until now, however, have focused on the analyses of site displacement or stability of the whole site including structures like retaining walls, and thus, researches on rational design or method for stability analysis are lacking. Therefore, this study was conducted on a number of stability analyses, such as the visual power line or stability on sliding, being presented for bin walls, which enable vegetation to grow and were developed and applied in varied forms, meeting the development demands for eco-friendly retaining wall structures. This study compared the results of stability analyses, determined their feasibility, and evaluated their stability according to the height and facade slope of retaining walls. According to the results of this study, traditional masonry retaining wall analysis showed rather conservative stability evaluation results in the stability evaluation of bin walls, and the method using the visual power line seems to be objective because it produced similar results to the stability evaluation method on sliding or turnover.

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

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.509-514
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• 2017

Concrete retaining walls are the most common types of geotechnical structures for controlling instable slopes resulting from lateral pressure. In analytical stability, calculation of the concrete retaining walls is regarded as a rigid mass when its safety is required. When cracks in these structures are created, the stability may be enforced and causes to defeat. Therefore, identification, creation and propagation of cracks are among the important steps in control of lacks and stabilization. Using the numerical methods for simulation of crack propagation in concrete retaining walls bodies are among the new aspects of geotechnical analysis. Among the considered analytical methods in geotechnical appraisal, the boundary element method (BEM) for simulation of crack propagation in concrete retaining walls is very convenient. Considered concrete retaining wall of this paper is Pars Power Plant structured in south side in Assalouyeh, SW of Iran. This wall's type is RW6 with 11 m height and 440 m length and endurance of refinery construction lateral forces. To evaluate displacement and stress distributions (${\sigma}_{1,max}/{\sigma}_{3,min}$), the surrounding, especially in tip and its opening crack BEM, is considered an appropriate method. By considering the result of this study, with accurate simulation of crack propagation, it is possible to determine the final status of progressive failure in concrete retaining walls and anticipate the suitable stabilization method.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.52 no.6
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• pp.1225-1256
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• 2014

Calculating the seismic displacement of retaining walls has an important role in the optimum design of these structures. Also, studying the effect of surcharge is important for the calculation of active pressure as well as permanent displacements of the wall. In this regard, some researchers have investigated active pressure; but, unfortunately, there are few investigations on the seismic displacement of retaining walls with surcharge. In this research, using limit analysis and upper bound theorem, permanent seismic displacement of retaining walls with surcharge was analyzed for sliding and overturning failure mechanisms. Thus, a new formulation was presented for calculating yield acceleration, critical angle of failure wedge, and permanent displacement of retaining walls with surcharge. Also, effects of surcharge, its location and other factors such as height of the wall and internal friction angle of soil on the amount of seismic displacements were investigated. Finally, designing charts were presented for calculating yield acceleration coefficient and angle of failure wedge.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2009.09a
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• pp.350-358
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• 2009

To enhance the application of the reinforced retaining walls in the railway industry, this paper suggested a type of reinforcement subgrade with short reinforcement and rigid facing. To become popular the reinforced retaining walls in the industry, the deformation of retaining walls should be controlled below some limited level. In this paper, small scale and full scale tests of the proposed retaining walls were performed and their deformation characteristics were evaluated. Even though it has short reinforcement, the rigid type retaining wall had small deformation to the external train loading than the segmental type retaining wall had.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.75-91
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• 2009

It is known that retaining walls were severely damaged as well in the most recent earthquakes having occurred in the countries in the active seismic belts of the world. This damage can be ascribed to the calculation methods used for the designs of retaining walls in the event of their constructions and employment having been accurately carried out. Generally simplified pseudo-static methods are used in the analysis of retaining walls with analytical methods and soil-structure interaction are not considered. In view of these circumstances, in this article by taking soil interaction into consideration, linear and nonlinear behaviours of retaining walls are analyzed with the assistance of LUSAS which is one of the structural analysis programs. This investigations are carried out per LUSAS which employs the finite element method as to the Erzincan (1992) Earthquake North-South component and the obtained findings are compared with the ones obtained from the method suggested in Eurocode-8, which is still effective today, and Mononobe-Okabe method. Not only do the obtained results indicate the distribution and magnitude of soil pressures are depend on the filling soil but on the foundation soil as well and nonlinear effects should be considered in designs of these walls.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.247-267
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• 2012

Calculating the displacements of retaining walls under seismic loads is a crucial part in optimum design of these structures and unfortunately the techniques based on active seismic pressure are not sufficient alone for an appropriate design of the wall. Using limit analysis concepts, the seismic displacements of retaining walls are studied in present research. In this regard, applying limit analysis method and upper bound theorem, a new procedure is proposed for calculating the yield acceleration, critical angle of failure wedge, and permanent displacements of retaining walls in seismic conditions for two failure mechanisms, namely sliding and sliding-rotational modes. Also, the effect of internal friction angle of soil, the friction angle between wall and soil, maximum acceleration of the earthquake and height of the wall all in the magnitude of seismic displacements has been investigated by the suggested method. Two sets of ground acceleration records related to near-field and far-field domains are employed in analyses and eventually the results obtained from the suggested method are compared with those from other techniques.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2005.03a
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• pp.1496-1503
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• 2005

The study on the lateral earth pressure is briskly preformed for various conditions such as type of retaining walls, ground condition, and type of supporting systems. It is not simple to determine the distribution of lateral earth pressure accurately, however, because the lateral earth pressure is affected by various factors. This study is performed to analyze the behavior of earth retaining walls for new excavation contacting with existing excavation by comparing with the site measuring values before and after new excavation. On the base of observation, the distribution of strut axial forces is similar to that of ganeral earth retaining walls, but strut axial forces is increased by removal of existing earth anchors. When new excavation is performed contacting with existing excavation, the axial force of strut is decreased because of soil exclusion in the behind walls, but that force is increased after new exeavation. The analysis result show that the installation of strut in middle part makes a effect to not only 1 adjacent strut, but 3-5 adjacent struts. Also during new excavation strut axial forces is decreased by relaxation of total earth retaining wall system.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2008.10a
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• pp.168-175
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• 2008

The method of reinforced earth walls has grown remarkably and the frequency of utilization has been increased on a national scale thereafter introduced in the middle 1980s in Korea. Furthermore the construction case of the extensive Geosynthetic-Reinforced Segmental Retaining Walls had been increased. Currently, the design criterion of FHWA and NCMA mainly used in Korea suggest determining the horizontal distance of the upper/lower retaining wall based on the study results of the internal stability and the external stability of Segmental Retaining Walls but in many cases are not suitable for the actual situation in Korea. Therefore, in this study reviewed the design criterion of Geosynthetic-Reinforced Segmental Retaining Walls, performed the internal and external stability in Paju, Gyeonggi-do based on the design criterion of FHWA and NCMA, suggested the modified design criterion of FHWA with analyzing the results, and performed the stability analysis for the internal and external stability and the compound failure. Moreover for the confirmation of the modified FHWA design standard, the suggestion and the analysis of the numerical analysis approaching method using shear strength reduction technique were performed and the design cases utilized the modified FHWA design standard based on the study analysis were introduced.