Integrated Study of Reinforced Earth–II: Behavior and Design

An analytical study using the finite element method of an instrumented reinforced earth wall constructed in Southern California is described. The analytical results are compared with the field performance data to illustrate the overall behavior of the structure. It is concluded that a reinforced earth wall is a relatively rigid self-supporting unit for which, under normal conditions, the stress state within the wall is approximately the k_o condition, and the backfill just behind the wall approaches the k_a condition. The boundary geometry of the backfill, the foundation, and the compressibility of the foundation material intimately affect the magnitude and distribution of the reinforcing strip forces; compression forces may develop under particular combination of these physical parameters. Design procedures based on possible failure modes for the determination of size, spacing, and length of reinforcing strips are considered.