Numerical Study of a Failure of a Reinforced Earth Retaining Wall

Abstract

The case history of a failure of a RE wall has been presented. The wall failed immediately upon completion due to the overestimation of the strengths of the foundation clay layers and due to the underestimation of the self weight of the fill materials. A typical cross-section of the wall along with the stabilizing embankment and the foundation are modeled numerically by the limit equilibrium method and by a finite element method. The strengths of the foundation soils are determined by field tests done after the failure of the wall. Both the analyses predicted failure of the wall. The deformations predicted by the finite element method are found to be comparable to the observed field data. The numerical analyses further indicate that by consolidating a foundation clay layer to a minimum undrained strength of 45 kPa, the required factor of safety for the wall along with the road embankment can be achieved theoretically. Accordingly, prefabricated vertical drains are used to expedite the drainage and consolidation of the foundation clay layers. After the field tests confirm that the required minimum undrained strength is achieved, the RE wall and the embankment have been rebuilt successfully and now in full operation.