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Experimental Study on Buffering System for Concrete Retaining Walls Using Geocell Filled with Single-Grain Crushed Stone

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Abstract

In this study, a new buffering system with geocell is proposed as a buffer for concrete rock-fall protection retaining walls, and real-scale impact loading tests were conducted to investigate its buffering capacity and failure behavior. Geocell filled with single-grain crushed stone was placed in front of a rigid wall that simulated a retaining wall, and the experiments were performed by allowing the weight to horizontally collide by pendular movement. Transmitted stress was measured with load cells embedded in the rigid wall. The following results were obtained: (1) The falling weight did not bounce and the proposed geocell buffering system absorbed the total input energy. (2) Lame’s constant is evaluated as λ = 1500 kN/m2 in all cases, which is approximately 1.5 times higher than when sand is used as a cushion material and is considered a design value. (3) Geocell buffering systems exhibit sufficient buffering performance, even with second impact loading. (4) The impact resistance of the concrete retaining wall is improved approximately 17 times by installing a geocell buffering system in front. Future studies should clarify the buffering effect of the geocell buffering method and establish an impact-resistant design method that also considers the overturn and sliding of the concrete retaining wall. When the proposed method is put into practical use, it is possible to improve the impact resistance of existing concrete retaining walls at low cost and in a short period. This can protect human lives and a smooth transportation network from unexpected large rock falls.

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Acknowledgements

In conducting this research, the Civil Engineering Research Institute of the Cold Region provided support by lending high-speed cameras and providing invaluable advice on usage. In addition, we are grateful to the graduate students and undergraduates in the Structural Mechanics Laboratory at Muroran Institute of Technology, who provided support at all stages, from experiment setup to data arrangement. We would like to thank Editage (www.editage.com) for English language editing.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geosciences and Civil Engineering, Kanazawa University, Kakuma-machi, Kanazawa, 920-1192, Japan

    Yusuke Kurihashi

  2. Plastic Products Division, Tokyo Printing Ink Mfg. Co., Ltd., 1-12-4 Oji, Kita-ward, Tokyo, 114-0002, Japan

    Ryoki Oyama

  3. Civil Engineering Research Unit, College of Design and Manufacturing Technology, Muroran Institute of Technology, 27-1 Mizumoto, Muroran, 050-8585, Japan

    Masato Komuro

  4. Nihon Samicon Co., Ltd, 1-8-23 Bentenbashidori, Chuo-ward, Niigata, 950-0925, Japan

    Yoshihisa Murata

  5. Wakow Bussan Corporation, 1-5-5 Misaki, Chuo-ward, Niigata, 950-0954, Japan

    Shinobu Watanabe

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  1. Yusuke Kurihashi
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  2. Ryoki Oyama
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  3. Masato Komuro
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  4. Yoshihisa Murata
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  5. Shinobu Watanabe
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Correspondence to Yusuke Kurihashi.

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Kurihashi, Y., Oyama, R., Komuro, M. et al. Experimental Study on Buffering System for Concrete Retaining Walls Using Geocell Filled with Single-Grain Crushed Stone. Int J Civ Eng 18, 1097–1111 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40999-020-00520-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40999-020-00520-9

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