Abstract
GeoBarrier system (GBS) is a system that combines geobag wall with capillary barrier concept as stabilization method against rainfall-induced failure, and vegetation as green cover. This paper presents deformation behaviour of a GBS wall constructed as pilot study when subjected to rainfall infiltration. The GBS wall was 4 m high with 70° slope angle. The wall was subjected to uniform surcharge of 10 kN/m2 and rainfall of 22 mm/h for 8 h. Recycled materials were used as components of the capillary barrier. Coupled deformation-seepage finite element analyses were carried out to evaluate the stress and pore-water pressure variations within and behind the GBS wall during and after rainfall. Limit equilibrium analyses were performed at various stages during and after rainfall to assess the near vertical wall stability. The results of the coupled deformation seepage analysis showed that the reinforced zone in the GBS remained unsaturated during rainfall, indicating that the GBS wall performed well in minimizing the rainwater infiltration. However, the GBS wall face deformation pattern altered during and after rainfall, indicating that the rainfall infiltration increased the lateral stress on the top part of the wall. The variation of lateral stress with depth agrees with field measurements from earth pressure cells.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
ASTM D2487-11 (2011) Standard practice for classification of soils for engineering purposes (unified soil classification system). ASTM International, West Conshohocken
ASTM D4767-04 (2009) Test method for consolidated undrained triaxial compression test for cohesive soils. ASTM International, West Conshohocken
ASTM D7181-11 (2009) Method for consolidated drained triaxial compression test for soils. ASTM International, West Conshohocken
Berg RR, Christopher BR, Samtani NC (2009) Design and construction of mechanically stabilized earth walls and reinforced soil slopes. Federal highway administration report no FHWA-NHI-10-024FHWA GEC 011
Bishop AW, Henkel DJ (1962) The measurement of soil properties in triaxial test, 2nd edn. Edward Arnold, London
Building and Construction Authority Singapore (2008) Sustainable architecture, publication 2008, issue 1. BCA Academy of Built Environment, Singapore
Building and Construction Authority Singapore (2009) Advisory note 1/09 on earth retaining or stabilizing structures (ERSS)
Cardoso R, Silva RV, de Brito J, Dhir R (2016) Use of recycled aggregates from construction and demolition waste in geotechnical applications: a literature review. Waste Manag 49:131–145
Fredlund DG, Xing A, Huang S (1994) Predicting the permeability function for unsaturated soils using the soil-water character curve. Can Geotech J 31(3):533–546
Geo-Slope International Ltd (2012a) SIGMA/W stress deformation modelling. Geo-Slope International Ltd., Canada
Geo-Slope International Ltd (2012b) SLOPE/W for slope stability analysis. Geo-Slope International Ltd., Calgary
Harnas FR, Rahardjo H, Leong EC, Wang JY (2014) Experimental study on dual capillary barrier using recycled asphalt pavement materials. Can Geotech J 51:1165–1177
Head KH, Epps RJ (2011) Manual of soil laboratory testing: permeability, shear strength and compressibility tests, vol 2, 3rd edn. Whittles Publishing, Dunbeath
Hilf JW (1956) An investigation of pore-water pressure in compacted cohesive soils. Ph.D. dissertation, University of Colorado
Khire MV, Benson CH, Bosscher PJ (2000) Capillary barriers: design variables and water balance. ASCE J Geotech Geoenviron Eng 126(8):695–708
Koerner RM (2005) Designing with geosynthetics, 5th edn. Prentice Hall, p 796
Koerner RM, Koerner GR (2013) A data base, statistics and recommendations regarding 171 failed geosynthetic reinforced mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) walls. Geotext Geomembr 40(2013):20–27
Matsuoka H, Liu S (2006) A new earth reinforcement method using soilbags. Taylor and Francis, London
Ng CWW, Coo JL, Chen EK, Chen R (2016) Water infiltration into a new three-layer landfill cover system. ASCE J Environ Eng 142(5):04016007
Public Utilities Board Singapore (2009) Code of practice on surface water drainage. Singapore Drainage Department
Public Works Department Singapore (1976) Geology of the Republic of Singapore. Public Works Department, Singapore
Qi S, Vanapalli SK (2015) Hydro-mechanical coupling effect on surficial layer stability of unsaturated expansive soil slopes. Comput Geotech 70:68–82
Rahardjo H, Lim TT, Chang MF, Fredlund DG (1995) Shear strength characteristics of a residual soil in Singapore. Can Geotech J 32:60–77
Rahardjo H, Ong BH, Leong EC (2004) Shear strength of a compacted residual soil from consolidated drained and constant water content triaxial tests. Can Geotech J 41(3):421–436
Rahardjo H, Tami D, Leong EC (2006) Effectiveness of sloping capillary barriers under high precipitation rates. In: Proceedings of 2nd international conference on problematic soils, CI-Premier, Singapore, pp 390–54
Rahardjo H, Krisdani H, Leong EC (2007) Application of unsaturated soil mechanics in capillary barrier system, invited lecture. In: Proceedings of 3rd Asian conference on unsaturated soils, Nanjing, China, pp 127–137
Rahardjo H, Melinda F, Leong EC, Rezaur RB (2011) Stiffness of a compacted residual soil. Eng Geol 120:60–67
Rahardjo H, Santoso VA, Leong EC, Ng YS, Hua CJ (2012a) Performance of an instrumented slope covered by a capillary barrier system. ASCE J Geotech Geoenviron Eng 138(4):481–490
Rahardjo H, Satyanaga A, Leong EC, Ng YS (2012b) Variability of residual soil properties. Eng Geol 141–142:124–140
Rahardjo H, Satyanaga A, Leong EC, Wang JY (2013) Unsaturated properties of recycled materials. Eng Geol 161:44–54
Rahardjo H, Harnas FR, Satyanaga A, Leong EC, Wang CL, Wong LH (2015) Numerical simulation of geobarrier system under rainfall infiltration. In: Aversa S et al. (eds) Landslides and engineered slopes. Experience, theory and practice, pp 1699–1706
Smesrud J, Selker J (2001) Effect of soil-particle size contrast on capillary barrier performance. J Geotech Geoenviron Eng 127(10):885–888
Stormont JC (1996) The effectiveness of two capillary barriers on a 10% slope. Geotech Geol Eng 14:243–267
Stormont JC, Anderson CE (1999) Capillary barrier effect from underlying coarser soil layer. J Geotech Geoenviron Eng ASCE 125(8):641–648
Tami D, Rahardjo H, Leong EC, Fredlund DG (2004) A physical model of sloping capillary barriers. Geotech Test J 27(2):11–27
Vieira CS, Pereira PM (2015) Use of recycled construction and demolition materials in geotechnical applications: a review. Resour Conserv Recycl 103:192–204
Wu LZ, Liu GG, Wang LC, Zhang LM, Li BE, Li B (2016) Numerical analysis of 1-D coupled infiltration and deformation in layered unsaturated porous medium. Environ Earth Sci 75:761
Yoo C, Jung HY (2006) Case history of geosynthetics reinforced segmental retaining wall failure. J Geotech Geoenviron Eng 132(12):1538–1548
Zhan TLT, Li H, Jia GW, Chen YM, Fredlund DG (2014) Physical and numerical study of lateral diversion by three-layer inclined capillary barrier covers under humid climatic conditions. Can Geotech J 51(12):1438–1448
Acknowledgements
The findings published in this paper are based on the project Geobarrier System for Use in Underground Structure (Grant No. SUL2013-3) that is supported by a research grant from the Ministry of National Development Research Fund on Sustainable Urban Living, Singapore.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Rahardjo, H., Gofar, N., Satyanaga, A. et al. Effect of Rainfall Infiltration on Deformation of Geobarrier Wall. Geotech Geol Eng 37, 1383–1399 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10706-018-0693-6
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10706-018-0693-6