2001 Volume 16 Pages 45-52
The preloaded and prestressed (PLPS) reinforced soil method with a ratchet system aims at preventing reduction in the prestress even when the backfill exhibits compression. A series of shaking table tests were perfumed. In one of the model tests with a ratchet system that worked imperfectly the prestress decreased against high input motions. Despite the above, the behavior of the model was nearly the same as the model with a system that worked nearly perfectly keeping the minimum prestress constant to the initial value. The most important function of the ratchet system is to fix the tie rod rigidly to the reaction block whenever the backfill tends to expand.
