Abstract
For the safe and economical design of a reinforced earth embankment, it is necessary to accurately determine the reinforcement to be provided at the top and bottom of the embankment as well as the maximum tensile force to be resisted by the reinforcement satisfying a desired factor of safety. In the present work, the top reinforcement length, the maximum tensile force to be resisted by the reinforcement, and the force coefficient are determined from the rotational stability analysis of the embankment. The minimum top reinforcement length has also been estimated considering its pull-out failure capacity. The bottom length of the reinforcement is determined considering the sliding failure mode at the base of the embankment. The effects of pore pressure loadings are further incorporated into the analysis by considering different values of pore pressure ratio. The estimated bottom length of the reinforcement obtained from the sliding failure analysis is checked to prevent deep-seated failure of the embankment. Detailed charts of top and bottom reinforcement lengths, reinforcement length considering pull-out failure as well as the force coefficient are provided considering different combinations of soil’s strength parameters and pore pressure loading for different slope angles.
This is a preview of subscription content,
to check access.













Data Availability
Data will be made available on request.
References
Bardhan, A., Samui, P.: Probabilistic slope stability analysis of heavy-haul freight corridor using a hybrid machine learning paradigm. Transportation Geotechnics. 37, 100815 (2022)
Bishop, A.W.: The use of the slip circle in the stability analysis of slopes. Geotechnique 5, 7–17 (1955). https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.1955.5.1.7
Bishop, A.W., Morgenstern, N.: Stability coefficients for earth slopes. Geotechnique 10, 129–153 (1960)
Deng, B., Yang, M.: Stability analysis of geosynthetic-reinforced soil structures under steady infiltrations. Acta Geotech. 17, 205–220 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11440-021-01195-9
Dram, A., Balunaini, U., Benmebarek, S., Sravanam, S.M., Madhav, M.R.: Earthquake response of connected and unconnected back-to-back geosynthetic-reinforced soil walls. Int. J. Geomech. 21, 4021223 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1061/(asce)gm.1943-5622.0002206
Duncan, J.M.: State of the art: limit equilibrium and finite-element analysis of slopes. Journal of Geotechnical Engineering. 122, 577–596 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1061/(asce)0733-9410(1996)122:7(577)
FHWA-NHI-00-043: Mechanically stabilized earth walls and reinforced soil slopes: design and construction guidelines (updated version), United States. Federal Highway Administration. (2001). https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/48689
Fredlund, D.G., Krahn, J.: Comparison of slope stability methods of analysis. Can. Geotech. J. 14, 429–439 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1139/t77-045
Griffiths, D.V., Lane, P.A.: Slope stability analysis by finite elements. Geotechnique 49, 387–403 (1999)
Guo, D., Hamada, M.: Observed stability of natural and reinforced slopes during the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake. Structural Engineering/earthquake Engineering. 29, 481–494 (2012). https://doi.org/10.2208/jsceseee.29.9s
Huang, W., Leong, E.-C., Rahardjo, H.: Upper-bound limit analysis of unsaturated soil slopes under rainfall. J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 144, 4018066 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1061/(asce)gt.1943-5606.0001946
Ingold, T.S.: An analytical study of geotextile reinforced embankments. In: Proceedings, 2nd International Conference on Geotextiles, vol. 3, pp. 683–688. Nev, Las Vegas (1982)
Jewell, R.A.: Material properties for the design of geotextile reinforced slopes. Geotext. Geomembr. 2, 83–109 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1016/0266-1144(85)90001-9
Jewell, R.A., Paine, N., Woods, R.I.: Design methods for steep reinforced embankments. In: Polymer grid reinforcement. pp. 70–81. Thomas Telford Publishing. (1984). https://doi.org/10.1680/pgr.02425.0014
Koerner, R.M.: Designing with Geosynthetics, vol. 1-2, p. 528. Xlibris Corporation (2012)
Leshchinsky, D., Reinschmidt, A.J.: Stability of membrane reinforced slopes. J. Geotech. Eng. 111, 1285–1300 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9410(1985)111:11(1285)
Li, Z.W., Yang, X.L.: Active earth pressure from unsaturated soils with different water levels. Int. J. Geomech. 19, 6019013 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1061/(asce)gm.1943-5622.0001471
Lin, H., Zhao, Y., Feng, P., Ye, H., Ozbolt, J., Jiang, C., Yang, J.-Q.: State-of-the-art review on the bond properties of corroded reinforcing steel bar. Constr. Build. Mater. 213, 216–233 (2019)
Mandal, J.N., Labhane, L.: A procedure for the design and analysis of geosynthetic reinforced soil slopes. Geotech. Geol. Eng. 10, 291–319 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00880706
Momeni, E., Yarivand, A., Dowlatshahi, M.B., Armaghani, D.J.: An efficient optimal neural network based on gravitational search algorithm in predicting the deformation of geogrid-reinforced soil structures. Transportation Geotechnics. 26, 100446 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trgeo.2020.100446
Murray, R.T.: An analytical study of geotextile reinforced embankments and cuttings. In: Proceedings, 2nd International Conference on Geotextiles, vol. III, pp. 707–713. Las Vegas: Nev (1982)
Murray, R.T.: Reinforcement techniques in repairing slope failures. Proceedings, Symposium on Polymer Grid Reinforcement in Civil Engineering, pp. 47–53. London (1984)
Onur, M.I., Tuncan, M., Evirgen, B., Ozdemir, B., Tuncan, A.: Behavior of soil reinforcements in slopes. Procedia Engineering. 143, 483–489 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proeng.2016.06.061
Panah, A.K., Eftekhari, Z.: Shaking table tests on polymeric-strip reinforced-soil walls adjacent to a rock slope. Geotext. Geomembr. 49, 737–756 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geotexmem.2020.12.005
Ruegger, R.: Geotextiles reinforced soil structures on which vegetation can be established. In: Proc., 3rd Int. Conf. on Geotextiles, vol 2, pp. 453–458. IEEE, Vienna, Austria (1986)
Schmertmann, G.R., Chourery-Curtis, V.E., Johnson, R.D., Bonaparte, R.: Design charts for geogridreinforced soil slopes. In: Proceedings Geosynthetics ‘87, vol. 1, pp. 108–120. Industrial Fabrics Association Int., St. Paul, Minn (1987)
Schneider, H.R., Holtz, R.D.: Design of slopes reinforced with geotextiles and geogrids. Geotext. Geomembr. 3, 29–51 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1016/0266-1144(86)90013-0
Sinha, P., Anusha Raj, K., Kumar, S., Singh, D.: Mechanical behavior of geotextile and geogrids on soil stabilization: a review. Recent Adv. Mech. Eng.: Select Proc. CAMSE 2021, 299–308 (2022)
Song, F., Chen, R.Y., Ma, L.Q., Zhao, J.: Stability analysis of reinforced slope based on limit equilibrium method. Tehnicki Vjesnik 25, 224–229 (2018). https://doi.org/10.17559/TV-20170317114554
Tandjiria, V., Low, B.K., Teh, C.I.: Effect of reinforcement force distribution on stability of embankments. Geotext. Geomembr. 20, 423–443 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1016/S0266-1144(02)00015-8
Tolooiyan, A., Abustan, I., Selamat, M.R., Ghaffari, S.: A comprehensive method for analyzing the effect of geotextile layers on embankment stability. Geotext. Geomembr. 27, 399–405 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geotexmem.2008.11.013
Vahedifard, F., Mortezaei, K., Leshchinsky, B.A., Leshchinsky, D., Lu, N.: Role of suction stress on service state behavior of geosynthetic-reinforced soil structures. Trans. Geotech. 8, 45–56 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trgeo.2016.02.002
Xu, J.S., Yang, X.L.: Three-dimensional stability analysis of slope in unsaturated soils considering strength nonlinearity under water drawdown. Eng. Geol. 237, 102–115 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2018.02.010
Yang, X.L., Chen, J.H.: Factor of safety of geosynthetic-reinforced slope in unsaturated soils. Int. J. Geomech. 19, 4019041 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1061/(asce)gm.1943-5622.0001399
Yang, K.H., Nguyen, T.S., Li, Y.H., Leshchinsky, B.: Performance and design of reinforced slopes considering regional hydrological conditions. Geosynth. Int. 26, 451–473 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1680/jgein.19.00031
Yao, C., Yang, X.: Limit analysis of unsaturated soil slope stability considering intermediate principal stress and strength nonlinearity. Geotech. Geol. Eng. 35, 2053–2063 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10706-017-0226-8
Zhou, L., Ding, G.: Seismic response of reinforced retaining walls with saturated calcareous sand backfill subjected to acid rain erosion. J. Mater. Civ. Eng. 33, 6021005 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1061/(asce)mt.1943-5533.0003856
Zornberg, J.G., Arriaga, F.: Strain distribution within geosynthetic-reinforced slopes. Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering. 129, 32–45 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1061/(asce)1090-0241(2003)129:1(32)
Acknowledgements
The authors acknowledge the support of the colleagues in the Dept. of Civil Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Patna.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Contributions
Mr. Amit Kumar (first author): conceptualization, analysis, writing of the manuscript. Dr. Avijit Burman (second and corresponding author): conceptualization, analysis, writing of the manuscript, overall supervision. Dr. Shiva Shankar Choudhary (third author): conceptualization and overall supervision.
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Ethics Approval and Consent to Participate
Yes.
Consent for Publication
Yes.
Competing Interest
The authors declare no competing interests.
Additional information
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
About this article
Cite this article
Kumar, A., Burman, A. & Choudhary, S.S. Design Charts for Reinforced Soil Slopes Considering Rotational and Sliding Failure Mechanisms. Transp. Infrastruct. Geotech. (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40515-023-00348-5
Accepted:
Published:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40515-023-00348-5