Mobilized Bearing Capacity Analysis of Global Stability for Walls Supported by Aggregate Piers
Publication: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 147, Issue 6
Abstract
Global stability analysis is a key component of mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) wall design, especially those constructed over marginal soils. When limit equilibrium analysis is used for MSE wall design, incorrect factors of safety can be predicted depending on the shape assumed for the failure surface. The use of ground improvement, such as aggregate piers (AP), further complicates the analysis. A mobilized bearing capacity (MBC) approach is presented which highlights the direct relationship between the factors of safety for global stability and bearing capacity. Results from the MBC approach are compared with finite element strength reduction analyses for a range of MSE wall geometries and AP replacement ratios. The factors of safety match well for global factors of safety between 1 and 1.5, considering both eccentricity and stress concentration. The MBC approach provides a tool to supplement and refine global stability analyses for retaining walls constructed over improved foundations.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Data Availability Statement
Some or all data, models, or code that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Acknowledgments
The authors acknowledge GeoPier Foundation Company’s financial support of the numerical analyses performed for this study and collaboration on technical aspects of AP design for MSE wall support. Tennessee Tech’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Center for Energy Systems Research are also acknowledged for their support of the authors. The authors also thank the anonymous reviewers for their valuable contributions and suggestions, which greatly improved this paper.
References
Ariyarathne, P., D. S. Liyanapathirana, and C. J. Leo. 2013. “Comparison of different two-dimensional idealizations for a geosynthetic-reinforced pile-supported embankment.” Intl. J. Geomech. 13 (6): 754–768. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GM.1943-5622.0000266.
Barker, R. M., J. M. Duncan, K. B. Rojiani, P. S. Ooi, C. K. Tan, and S. G. Kim. 1991. Manuals for the design of bridge foundations: Shallow foundations, driven piles, retaining walls and abutments, drilled shafts, estimating tolerable movements, and load factor design specifications and commentary. Washington, DC: Transportation Research Board.
Bathurst, R. J., K. Hatami, and M. C. Alfaro. 2012. “Geosynthetic-reinforced soil walls and slopes—Seismic aspects.” In Handbook of geosynthetic engineering, 2nd ed., 317–363. London: ICE Publishing.
Bergado, D. T., and P. V. Long. 1994. “Numerical analysis of embankment on subsiding ground improved by vertical drains and granular piles.” In Proc. 13th ICSMFE, 1361–1366. New Delhi, India: Oxford and IBH Publishing.
Briançon, L., and B. Simon. 2012. “Performance of pile-supported embankment over soft soil: Full-scale experiment.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 138 (4): 551–561. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0000561.
Chen, R. P., Z. Z. Xu, Y. M. Chen, D. S. Ling, and B. Zhu. 2010. “Field tests on pile-supported embankments over soft ground.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 136 (6): 777–785. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0000295.
Davis, R. O., and A. P. Selvadurai. 2002. Plasticity and geomechanics. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.
Diaz, C., G. Taylor, and L. Shao. 2012. “Ground improvement under a MSE embankment wall in an urban environment.” In Proc., 4th Int. Conf. Grouting Deep Mixing 2012. Reston, VA: ASCE. https://ascelibrary.org/doi/abs/10.1061/9780784412350.0059.
Duncan, J. M., and A. L. Buchiagnani. 1987. Engineering manual for settlement studies. Blacksburg, VA: Center for Geotechnical Practice and Research.
Duncan, J. M., S. G. Wright, and T. L. Brandon. 2014. Soil strength and slope stability. New York: Wiley.
FHWA (Federal Highway Administration). 1983. Design and construction of stone columns—Volume I. Washington, DC: FHWA.
FHWA (Federal Highway Administration). 2009. Design and construction of mechanically stabilized earth walls and reinforced soil slopes—Volume I. Washington, DC: FHWA.
FHWA (Federal Highway Administration). 2016. Limit equilibrium design framework for MSE structures with extensible reinforcement. Washington, DC: FHWA.
FHWA (Federal Highway Administration). 2017. Ground modification methods reference manual—Volume I. Washington, DC: FHWA.
Filz, G. M., J. A. Sloan, M. P. McGuire, M. Smith, and J. Collin. 2019. “Settlement and vertical load transfer in column-supported embankments.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 145 (10): 04019083. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0002130.
GeoPier Foundation Company. 2016. GeoPier shear reinforcement for global stability and slope stability. Davidson, NC: GeoPier Foundation.
HITEC (Highway Innovative Technology Evaluation Center). 2007. HITEC evaluation of Geopier rammed aggregate piers. Reston, VA: ASCE.
Huang, J., J. Han, and S. Oztoprak. 2009. “Coupled mechanical and hydraulic modeling of geosynthetic-reinforced column-supported embankments.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 135 (8): 1011–1021. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0000026.
Hutchinson, D. L. 2011. “Case study of a foundation improvement beneath MSE walls for a highway embankment.” In Geo-Frontiers 2011. Reston, VA: ASCE. https://ascelibrary.org/doi/abs/10.1061/41165%28397%29349.
Kulhawy, F. H. 1969. “Finite element analysis of the behavior of embankments.” Ph.D. dissertation, Univ. of California. http://oskicat.berkeley.edu/record=b14306556~S1.
Lawton, E. C., and N. S. Fox. 1994. “Settlement of structures supported on marginal or inadequate soils stiffened with short aggregate piers.” In Vertical and horizontal deformations of foundations and embankments, 962–974. Reston, VA: ASCE.
Leshchinsky, D., and J. Han. 2004. “Geosynthetic reinforced multitiered walls.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 130 (12): 1225–1235. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)1090-0241(2004)130:12(1225).
Leshchinsky, D., F. Vahedifard, and B. A. Leshchinsky. 2012. “Revisiting bearing capacity analysis of MSE walls.” Geotext. Geomembr. 34 (Oct): 100–107. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geotexmem.2012.05.006.
Mankbadi, R., J. Mansfield, R. Wilson-Fahmy, S. Hanna, and V. Krstic. 2004. “Ground improvement utilizing vibro-concrete columns.” In GeoSupport 2004. Reston, VA: ASCE. https://ascelibrary.org/doi/abs/10.1061/40713%282004%2955.
Meyerhof, G. G. 1963. “Some recent research on the bearing capacity of foundations.” Can. Geotech. J. 1 (1): 16–26. https://doi.org/10.1139/t63-003.
Mitchell, J. K. 1981. “Soil improvement: State of the art.” In Proc., 10th Int. Conf. Soil Mechanics Foundation Engineering, 509–565. Rotterdam, Netherlands: A.A. Balkema.
Murugesan, S., and K. Rajagopal. 2006. “Geosynthetic-encased stone columns: Numerical evaluation.” J. Geotextiles Geomemb. 24 (6): 349–358. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geotexmem.2006.05.001.
Murugesan, S., and K. Rajagopal. 2010. “Studies on the behavior of single and group of geosynthetic encased stone columns.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 136 (1): 129–139. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0000187.
Reed, E. C. 2018. “Comparison of FEA and analytical methods for determining stability of a RAP supported MSE wall.” M.S. thesis, Dept. of Civil Engineering, Tennessee Technological Univ.
Reed, E. C., and D. R. VandenBerge. 2019. “Comparison of FEA and analytical methods for determining stability of a RAP supported MSE wall.” J. Deep Found. Inst. 12 (2): 122–129. https://doi.org/10.1080/19375247.2018.1562593.
Sloan, J. A. 2011. “Column-supported embankments: Full-scale tests and design recommendations.” Ph.D. dissertation, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Tech.
Sloan, S. W. 2013. “Geotechnical stability analysis.” Géotechnique 63 (7): 531–571. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.12.RL.001.
Spencer, E. 1967. “A method of analysis of the stability of embankments assuming parallel inter-slice forces.” Géotechnique 17 (1): 11–26. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.1967.17.1.11.
Stuedlein, A. W., M. Bailey, D. Lindquist, J. Sankey, and W. J. Neely. 2010. “Design and performance of a 46-m-high MSE wall.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 136 (6): 786–796. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0000294.
Thompson, M. J., K. J. Wissmann, and H. T. Pham. 2009. “Performance monitoring of a rammed aggregate pier foundation supporting a mechanically stabilized earth wall.” J. Perform. Constr. Facil. 23 (4): 244–250. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)CF.1943-5509.0000010.
Ukritchon, B., A. J. Whittle, and S. W. Sloan. 1998. “Undrained limit analyses for combined loading of strip footings on clay.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 124 (3): 265–276. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)1090-0241(1998)124:3(265).
VandenBerge, D. R. 2017. “V-shaped failure surfaces in bearing capacity type limit equilibrium analysis.” In GeoFrontiers 2017. Reston, VA: ASCE. https://ascelibrary.org/doi/abs/10.1061/9780784480458.001.
White, D. J., H. T. V. Pham, and K. K. Hoevelkamp. 2007. “Support mechanisms of rammed aggregate piers. I: Experimental results.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 133 (12): 1503–1511. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)1090-0241(2007)133:12(1503).
Zhang, Z., J. Han, and G. Ye. 2014. “Numerical investigation on factors for deep-seated slope stability of stone column-supported embankments over soft clay.” Eng. Geology 168 (Jan): 104–113. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2013.11.004.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 147 • Issue 6 • June 2021
Copyright
© 2021 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Nov 5, 2019
Accepted: Feb 23, 2021
Published online: Apr 8, 2021
Published in print: Jun 1, 2021
Discussion open until: Sep 8, 2021
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.