Abstract
In cases where the space available for the mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) walls is less than required, the “narrowed mechanically stabilized earth walls” are usually designed and constructed next to the existing stable slopes/walls. Although such walls have already been used and studied in some projects, the effects of different interface connections on complicated narrowed MSE walls are still not clear. The performance and mechanism of narrowed MSE walls still need further exploration, especially those with complex boundaries. Accordingly, two centrifuge model tests of narrowed MSE walls with thick soil mass above (like having an inside bench) were designed and carried out with full instrumentations. One of the models had mechanical interface connections to the boundary/stable slope and the other one without connections. The authors analyzed the experimental data including settlement, lateral displacement of the facing and earth pressure in the narrowed MSE walls and used limit equilibrium method to help locate critical failure planes. The results indicated that narrowed MSE walls had obvious differential settlement on crest, and around the inside bench the vertical earth pressure was observed to have concentrated and reduced distributions. The analyses indicated that the critical failure plane was bilinear, also different from conventional MSE walls. Mechanically connecting the narrowed MSE wall to the stable slope/wall is an efficient measure to help control the deformation and improve stability of the system, whereas the unconnected wall would experience larger displacement and was prone to collapse. Furthermore, the rupture of model reinforcements suggested that the extension of the upper reinforcements beyond the stable wall/slope face was not enough to ensure external stability.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
ADAMA Engineering, Inc. (2012) The computer software ReSSA version 3.0. Newark
Berg RR, Christopher BR, Samtani NC (2009) Design and construction of mechanically stabilized earth walls and reinforced soil slopes. Federal highway administration, Washington DC, FHWA-NHI-10-024
Elias V, Christopher BR, Berg RR (2001) Mechanically stabilized earth walls and reinforced soil slopes, design and construction guidelines. US department of transportation, Federal highway administration, Washington DC, FHWA-NHI-00-043
Filz GM, Duncan JM (1997a) Vertical shear loads on nonmoving walls, I: theory. J Geotech Geoenviron Eng, ASCE 123(9):856–862
Filz GM, Duncan JM (1997b) Vertical shear loads on nonmoving walls, II: application. J Geotech Geoenviron Eng, ASCE 123(9):863–873
Kniss K, Wright S, Zornberg JG, Yang KH (2007) Design considerations for MSE retaining walls constructed in confined spaces. Center for transportation research (CTR), Report No. 0-5506-1, Austin
Ko HY (1988) Summary of the state-of-art in centrifuge model testing. Centrifuge’88. Balkema, Rotterdam, pp 11–18
Lawson CR, Yee TW (2005) Reinforced soil retaining walls with constrained reinforced fill zones. In: Proceedings of geo-frontiers 2005 congress, Austin, ASCE GSP 140
Lee K, Jones CJFP, Sullivan WR, Trolinger W (1994) Failure and deformation of four reinforced soil walls in eastern Tennessee. Géotechnique 4(3):397–426
Lee YB, Ko HY, McCartney JS (2010) Deformation response of shored MSE walls under surcharge loading in the centrifuge. Geosynth Int 17(6):389–402
Leshchinsky D, Hu Y, Han J (2004) Limited reinforced space in segmental retaining wall. Geotext Geomembr 22(6):543–553
Ling HI, Wu JTH, Tatsuoka F (1992) Short-term strength and deformation characteristics of geotextiles under typical operational conditions. Geotext Geomembr 11:185–219
Morrison KF, Harrison FE, Collin JG, Dodds A, Arndt B (2006) Shored mechanically stabilized earth (SMSE) wall systems. FHWA-CFL/TD-06-001, Federal Highway Administration, Washington, DC
Morrison KF, Harrison FE, Collin JG, Dodds A, Anderson SA (2007) Full-scale testing of a shored mechanically-stabilized earth (SMSE) wall employing short reinforcements. In: Proceedings of geo-denver, pp 1–10. ASCE, Denver
Spencer E (1967) A method of analysis of the stability of embankments assuming parallel inter-slice forces. Geotechnique 24(4):661–665
Tatsuoka F, Tateyama M, Murata O (1989) Earth retaining wall a short geotextile and a rigid facing. Proceedings of the twelfth international conference on soil mechanics and foundation engineering 2:1311–1314
Woodruff R (2003) Centrifuge modeling for MSE-shoring composite walls. MS Thesis, University of Colorado, Boulder
Xu C, Luo YS, Zhu H, Wang J, Yang F (2013) Performance of high geosynthetic-reinforced embankments. In: Proceedings of the geo-congress on stability and performance of slopes and embankments, San Diego, pp 515–518
Yang KH, Kniss KK, Zornberg JG, Wright SG (2008a) Finite element analyses for centrifuge modeling of narrow MSE walls. In: Proceedings of first pan American geosynthetics conference. GEOAMERICAS 2008, Cancun
Yang KH, Zornberg JG, Wright SG (2008b) Numerical modeling of narrow MSE walls with extensible reinforcements. Center for transportation research (CTR), Report No. 0-5506-2, Austin
Yang KH, Zornberg JG, Hung WY, Lawson CR (2011) Location of failure plane and design considerations for narrow geosynthetic reinforced soil wall systems. J GeoEng 6(1):27–40
Acknowledgements
The authors are indebted to the Transportation and Communication Department of Hubei Province for its financial supporting for this study (No. 2011-700-3-42). Also, we appreciate the kind help of colleagues in centrifuge modeling tests. Comments from reviewers and editors to improve the clarity and quality of the paper are welcome and will be appreciated.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Xu, C., Luo, Ys., Chen, Hs. et al. Effects of interface connections on narrowed mechanically stabilized earth walls. Environ Earth Sci 75, 1411 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-016-6226-9
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-016-6226-9