Case study on mechanical behaviour of a largely-deformed reinforced earth wall

Abstract

In this paper, a case study was carried out into the mechanical behaviour of a largely-deformed reinforced earth wall. The engineering properties of the fill material were in detail examined by performing various in-situ as well as laboratory tests such as surface wave survey, PS-logging, RI-logging, bender element test, direct shear box test, soaking test, etc. Based on the results of these tests, the process to reach a large-deformation may be described such that i) a considerable amount of settlement was induced over a weak soil layer in the reinforced earth due to infiltration of rainfall water, ii) the part of fill material was partially supported by the geotextile, and iii) the concrete panels were excessively deformed by the unexpectedly large tension force of the geotextile, and also by the decrease of shear resistance between the geotextile and the surrounding soil owing to the decrease of the overburden stress.