Geosynthetic Reinforced Soil Structures
Publication: Journal of Geotechnical Engineering
Volume 115, Issue 10
Abstract
An approach for stability analysis of geosynthetic reinforced earth structures over firm foundations is presented. The approach involves both internal and external stability analyses. The internal stability analysis is based on variational limiting equilibrium and satisfies all equilibrium requirements. Two extreme inclinations of reinforcement tensile resistance are investigated: orthogonal to the radius defining the geosynthetic sheet, and horizontal, signifying the as‐installed position. Although a horizontal positioning requires slightly longer anchorage to assure pullout resistance, the slip surface is shallower when compared to the orthogonal case. As a result, the required total embedment length is longer for the orthogonal inclination. The external stability analysis is an extension of the bilinear wedge method and it allows a slip plane to propagate horizontally along a reinforcing sheet. The results for both the internal and external stability analyses are conveniently presented in the form of design charts. Given a slope and a design safety factor, the geosynthetic sheets' profile as well as their required tensile resistance can be determined utilizing these charts.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
References
1.
Baker, R. (1981). “Tensile strength, tension cracks and stability of slopes.” Soils and Founds., Journal of the Japanese Society of Soil Mech. and Found. Engrg., 21(2), 1–17.
2.
Baker, R., and Garber, M. (1977). “Variational approach to slope stability.” Proc., 9th Int. Conf. on Soil Mech. and Found. Engrg., Tokyo, Japan, 2, 2–12.
3.
Baker, R., and Garber, M. (1978). “Theoretical analysis of the stability of slopes.” Geotechnique, London, England, 28(4), 395–411.
4.
Boedeker, R. H. (1987). “Analysis and design of geotextile reinforced granular embankment over firm foundations,” thesis presented to the University of Delaware, at Newark, Del., in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Civil Engineering.
5.
Bell, J. R., Stilley, A. N., and Vandre, B. (1975). “Fabric retained earth walls.” Proc., 13th Annual Engrg. Geology and Soils Engrg. Symp., Univ. of Idaho, 271–287.
6.
Bonaparte, R., Holtz, R. D., and Giroud, J. P. (1985). “Soil reinforcement design using geotextiles and geogrids.” Geotextile testing and the design engineer (STP 952), J. E. Fluet, ed., Am. Soc. for Testing and Materials, Philadelphia, Pa., 69–116.
7.
Carroll, R. G., and Richardson, G. N. (1986). “Geosynthetic reinforced retaining walls.” Proc., 3rd Int. Conf. on Geotextiles, Vienna, Austria, Austrian National Committee of the Int. Society for Soil Mech. and Found. Engrg., 2, 389–394.
8.
Christie, I. F., and El‐Hadi, K. M. (1977). “Some aspects of the design of earth dams reinforced with fabric.” Proc., Int. Conf. on the Use of Fabrics in Geotechnics, Paris, France, 1, 99–103.
9.
Den Hoedt, G. (1986). “Creep and relaxation of geotextile fabrics.” Geotextiles and Geomembrs., Elsevier Applied Science Publishers Ltd., England, 4(2), 83–92.
10.
Hodge, J. (1985). “Durability testing.” Geotextile testing and the design Engineer (STP 952), J. E. Fluet, ed., Am. Soc. of Testing and Materials, Philadelphia, Pa., 119–121.
11.
Ingold, T. S. (1982). “An analytical study of geotextile reinforced embankments.” Proc., 2nd Int. Conf. on Geotextiles, Las Vegas, Nev., Industrial Fabrics Association Int., 3, 683–688.
12.
Koerner, R. M. (1986). Designing with geosynthetics. Prentice‐Hall, Englewood Cliffs, N.J.
13.
Koerner, R. M., and Hausmann, M. R. (1987). “Strength requirements of geosynthetics for soil reinforcement.” Geotech. Fabrics Report, 5(1), 18–26.
14.
Leshchinsky, D., and Reinschmidt, A. J. (1985). “Stability of membrane reinforced slopes.” J. Geotech. Engrg., ASCE, 111(11), 1285–1300.
15.
Leshchinsky, D., and Volk, J. C. (1985). “Stability charts for geotextile reinforced walls.” Transp. Res. Record, 1031, 5–16.
16.
Leshchinsky, D., Volk, J. C., and Reinschmidt, A. J. (1986). “Stability of Geotextile‐Retained Earth Railroad Embankment.” Geotextiles and Geomembranes, Elsevier Applied Science Publishers Ltd., England, 3(2 & 3), 105–128.
17.
Leshchinsky, D., and Perry, E. B. (1987). “A design procedure for geotextile reinforced walls.” Geotechn. Fabrics Report, 5(4), 21–27.
18.
Murray, R. T. (1982). “An analytical study of geotextile reinforced embankments and cuttings.” Proc., 2nd Int. Conf. on Geotextiles, Las Vegas, Nev., Industrial Fabrics Associated Int., 3, 707–713.
19.
Murray, R. T., and McGown, A. (1987). “Geotextile test procedures: background and sustained load testing.” Application Guide 5, Transport and Road Research Laboratory, Dept. of Transport, Ground Engrg. Div., Structures Group, Crowthorne, Berkshire, England.
20.
Ruegger, R. (1986). “Geotextiles reinforced soil structures on which vegetation can be established.” Proc., 3rd Int. Conf. on Geotextiles, Vienna, Austria, 2, 453–458.
21.
Schmertmann, G. R., et al. (1987). “Design charts for geogrid‐reinforced soil slopes.” Proc., Geosynthetics '87 Conf., New Orleans, La., Industrial Fabrics Association Int., 1, 108–120.
22.
Schneider, H. R., and Holtz, R. D. (1986). “Design of slopes reinforced with geotextiles and geogrids.” Geotextiles and Geomembranes, Elsevier Applied Science Publishers Ltd., England, 3(1), 29–51.
23.
Schneider, H., and Groh, M. (1987). “An analysis of the durability problems of geotextiles.” Proc., Geosynthetic '87 Conf., New Orleans, La., Industrial Fabrics Association Int., 2, 434–441.
24.
Taylor, D. W. (1937). “Stability of earth slopes.” J. of the Boston Society of Civ. Engrs., XXIV(3), 197–246.
25.
Whelton, W. S., and Wrigley, N. E. (1987). “Long‐term durability of geosynthetics soil reinforcement.” Proc., Geosynthetics '87 Conf., New Orleans, La., Industrial Fabrics Association Int., 2, 442–455.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Geotechnical Engineering
Volume 115 • Issue 10 • October 1989
Pages: 1459 - 1478
Copyright
Copyright © 1989 ASCE.
History
Published online: Oct 1, 1989
Published in print: Oct 1989
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.