Predicted Loads in Steel Reinforced Soil Walls Using the AASHTO Simplified Method
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VIEW THE REPLYPublication: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 135, Issue 2
Abstract
The paper investigates the accuracy of the AASHTO simplified method by using load measurements reported in a large database of full-scale instrumented walls for bar mat, welded wire, and steel strip soil reinforced walls. The accuracy of the AASHTO simplified method is quantified by computing the mean and coefficient of variation of the ratio (bias) of measured loads under operational conditions to predicted loads. The paper shows that for steel strip walls, the AASHTO simplified method is reasonably accurate for granular backfill soils with friction angles less than 45°. For bar mat walls, the method is demonstrated to be slightly conservative. The simplified method underpredicts reinforcement loads at shallow overburden depths for steel strip walls with backfill friction angles greater than 45° due to compaction-related effects. It is concluded that these compaction-induced loads near the wall top do not contribute to internal instability due to pullout.
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Acknowledgments
The second writer is grateful for a fellowship awarded by the Postdoc-Programme of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and held at the GeoEngineering Centre at Queen’s-RMC at RMC where the work described in this paper was carried out. Financial support for this study was also provided by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC)NSERC of Canada, grants from the Department of National Defence (Canada), and the following US State Departments of Transportation: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Minnesota, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 135 • Issue 2 • February 2009
Pages: 177 - 184
Copyright
© 2009 ASCE.
History
Received: Aug 1, 2007
Accepted: Apr 8, 2008
Published online: Feb 1, 2009
Published in print: Feb 2009
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