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GeoAmericas - 2020
Abstract: 324-1

324-1

Effects of Slope Inclinations, Loading Conditions, and Geotextile Lengths on Geotextile-Reinforced Earth Wall Behavior

Authors:
Hyunjun Oh1
1 UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON, MADISON - University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison

Abstract:

As geotextiles are used in a soil retaining structure, the retaining wall is mechanistically stabilized due to interactions of the soil and geotextile. In this study, laboratory tests were conducted to evaluate geotextile-reinforced earth wall that consists of non-woven polypropylene geotextile fabrics and re-bar mesh nets. Horizontal displacements of slopes that have three inclinations (73.3°, 59°, and 45°) and three lengths of geotextiles (10 cm, 14 cm, and 20 cm) were measured using 5 linear variable differential transformers (LVDTs) when three loads of 50 kPa, 100 kPa, and 250 kPa were cumulatively applied on top of the soil. Maximum horizontal displacements were observed near the top surface in slopes of 45° while those were measured around middle of slopes of 73.3° and 59°. As the load and the inclination increased from 50 kPa to 250 kPa and from 45° to 73.3°, respectively, or the length of geotextiles decreased from 20 cm to 10 cm, maximum horizontal displacements increased. In comparisons of the maximum horizontal displacements for non-reinforced wall and geotextile-reinforced wall, maximum horizontal displacements decreased by 71.62% with the reinforcements. These results expand on a limited database obtained from laboratory testing and thus provide empirical background for more precise geotextile-reinforced earth wall design.

Keywords:
 non-woven polypropylene geotextile fabri, geotextile-reinforced earth wall, horizontal displacement of slope