Analyzing the Reinforcement Loads of Geosynthetic-Reinforced Soil Walls Subject to Seismic Loading during the Service Life
Publication: Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities
Volume 23, Issue 5
Abstract
It is more rational to analyze permanent geosynthetic reinforced soil (GRS) walls against seismic loading based on their behavior during service life, but it has seldom been attempted. Calibrated finite-element procedure was used to investigate the reinforcement loads of GRS walls subject to seismic loading during service life, the results of which were compared to those predicted by Federal Highway Administration (FHwA) guideline. Parametric studies were carried out to investigate the effects of various wall parameters and characteristics of earthquake excitations. It is found that due to the isotach behavior of geosynthetics, the reinforcement loads during earthquake that occurs 10 years after construction were similar to those if the earthquake occurs at the end of construction. The FHwA method predicted roughly the maximum reinforcement load but it could not consider strain softening of soil and characteristics of earthquakes. The horizontal locations of maximum reinforcement load in lower reinforcement layers were farther away from the facing units than Rankine’s surface, which is believed to come from the potential compound failure.
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Information
Published In
Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities
Volume 23 • Issue 5 • October 2009
Pages: 292 - 302
Copyright
© 2009 ASCE.
History
Received: Nov 24, 2008
Accepted: Mar 30, 2009
Published online: May 2, 2009
Published in print: Oct 2009
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