Numerical parametric study of geosynthetic reinforced soil integrated bridge system (GRS-IBS)

A 2-D finite flement model was developed in this study to conduct a FE parametric study on the effects of some variables in the performance of geosynthetic reinforced soil integrated bridge system (GRS-IBS). The variables investigated in this study include the effect of internal friction angle of backfill material, width of reinforced soil foundation (RSF), secondary reinforcement within bearing bed, setback distance, bearing width and length of reinforcement. Other important parameters such as reinforcement stiffness and spacing were previously investgated by the authors. The performance of GRS-IBS were investgated in terms of lateral facing displacement, strain distribution along reinforcement, and location of potential failure zone. The results showed that the internal friction angle of backfill material has a significant impact on the performance of GRS-IBS. The secondary reinforcement, setback distance, and bearing width have low impact on the performance of GRS-IBS. However, it was found that the width of RSF and length of reinforcement have negligible effect on the performance of GRS-IBS. Finally, the potential failure envelope of the GRS-IBS abutment was found to be a combination of punching shear failure envelope (top) that starts under the inner edge of strip footing and extends vertically downward to intersect with Rankine active failure envelope (bottom).     

Numerical study on maximum reinforcement tensile forces in geosynthetic reinforced soil bridge abutments

This paper presents a numerical study of maximum reinforcement tensile forces for geosynthetic reinforced soil (GRS) bridge abutments. The backfill soil was characterized using a nonlinear elasto-plastic constitutive model that incorporates a hyperbolic stress-strain relationship with strain softening behavior and the Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion. The geogrid reinforcement was characterized using a hyperbolic load-strain-time constitutive model. The GRS bridge abutments were numerically constructed in stages, including soil compaction effects, and then loaded in stages to the service load condition (i.e., applied vertical stress?=?200?kPa) and finally to the failure condition (i.e., vertical strain?=?5%). A parametric study was conducted to investigate the effects of geogrid reinforcement, backfill soil, and abutment geometry on reinforcement tensile forces at the service load condition and failure condition. Results indicate that reinforcement vertical spacing and backfill soil friction angle have the most significant effects on magnitudes of maximum tensile forces at the service load condition. The locus of maximum tensile forces at the failure condition was found to be Y-shaped. Geogrid reinforcement parameters have little effect on the Y-shaped locus of the maximum tensile forces when no secondary reinforcement layers are included, backfill soil shear strength parameters have moderate effects, and abutment geometry parameters have significant effects.     

Geosynthetic-sheet pile reinforced foundation for mitigation of earthquake and tsunami induced damage of breakwater

Earthquake and tsunami impose great threats on the stability of a breakwater. Foundation of the breakwater is weakened by these forces, and it may result in collapse of the breakwater. Lateral flow of seabed soils take place beneath the breakwater, and excess pore water pressure is generated in the foundation by an earthquake that precedes tsunami. These factors may lead to excessive settlement and horizontal displacement of the breakwater. Tsunami introduces additional instability to the deformed breakwater. Due to water level difference between seaside and harborside of the breakwater during a tsunami, seepage occurs through its foundation, and it may cause pipping of seabed soils. Tsunami induced scouring of mound is also a big problem for the stability of the breakwater foundation. Finally, these result in failure of the breakwater foundation. Due to failure of its foundation, the breakwater may collapse and cannot block the tsunami. It results in entering of the tsunami in coastal areas. In order to make a breakwater resilient against earthquake and tsunami induced damage, reinforcing countermeasures were developed for foundation of a breakwater. Geogrid, gabions and sheet piles were used for reinforcing a foundation model. The effectiveness of the model is evaluated through physical modeling for mitigating the earthquake and tsunami induced damage. Shaking table tests were performed to determine the effectiveness of the reinforced model under different earthquake loadings. Tsunami overflow test was conducted on the same deformed model in order to see the effects of tsunami on the model. Comparisons were made between the unreinforced and reinforced foundations, and it was observed during the tests that the reinforced foundation performed well in reducing the damage of the breakwater brought by the earthquake and tsunami. Overall, this study is useful for practice engineering, and the reinforced foundation model can be adopted for designing a breakwater foundation to reduce damage triggered by an earthquake and tsunami in the future.     

Numerical evaluation of the effect of foundation on the behaviour of reinforced soil walls

This study numerically investigates the influence of foundation conditions, in combination with other factors such as wall height and reinforcement and facing stiffness, on the behaviour of reinforced soil walls (RSWs) under working stress conditions. The foundation was simulated using different stiffnesses and geometries (with and without slope). The results highlight the importance of the combined effect of foundation conditions and the abovementioned factors on the performance of RSWs. The results of these analyses indicate that the shape of the distribution of the maximum reinforcement loads (T_max) with respect to wall height depends on the combined effect of the foundation condition, facing and reinforcement stiffness, and wall height, and varies from trapezoidal to triangular. Additionally, the results indicate that the effect of variations in foundation stiffness on reinforcement tension mobilisation decreases with wall height. Furthermore, the T_max prediction accuracy of three design methods were evaluated and some limitations of each method are presented and discussed.     

Analytical modeling of geogrid reinforced soil foundation

This paper aims at developing analytical solutions for estimating the ultimate bearing capacity of geogrid reinforced soil foundations (RSF) for both sand and silty clay soils. Failure mechanisms for reinforced soil foundations are proposed based on the literature review and the results of experimental study on model footing tests conducted by the authors. New bearing capacity formulas that incorporate the contribution of reinforcements to the increase in bearing capacity are then developed for both reinforced sand and silty clay soil foundations based on the proposed failure mechanisms. The predicted bearing capacity values are compared with the results of laboratory model tests on reinforced sand and silty clay soil. The proposed analytical solutions were also verified by the results of large-scale model tests conducted by the authors for reinforced silty clay and the data reported in the literature. The predicted bearing capacity values from analytical solutions are in good agreement with the test results.     

Geotextile encased columns (GEC) used as pressure-relief system. Instrumented bridge abutment case study on soft soil

Geosynthetic Encased Sand Columns (GEC) have been frequently adopted in geo-engineering practice to improve bearing capacity, reduce settlements and accelerate consolidation in saturated soft cohesive ground (e.g. Alexiew et al, 2005; Alexiew et al., 2012; Raithel et al, 2005). The present paper extends these early views by introducing the use of columns to reduce the magnitude of horizontal earth pressures acting on structures adjacent to compaction fills. The monitoring program of a full-scale bridge abutment on soft soil supported by GECs and geogrid reinforced system is described, where field performance is monitored with pressure cells, electrical piezometers, inclinometers and settlement plates. Analytical and numerical analyses have been performed to help on interpreting experimental measurements. The collected database is interpreted to demonstrate that GEC can reduce by up to 50% the horizontal earth pressure over bridge border foundation piles when compared to values predicted for unreinforced ground and demonstrate that the work conformed to acceptable limits of behavior.     

Performance of a two-tier geosynthetic reinforced segmental retaining wall under a surcharge load: Full-scale load test and 3D finite element analysis

This paper presents the results of a full-scale load test and a 3D finite element analysis on a two-tier, 5 m high, geosynthetic reinforced segmental retaining wall (GR-SRW) subjected to a surcharge load aiming at investigating the response of the GR-SRW to various levels of surcharge load. The results of the load test at working stress condition revealed that the GR-SRW's response to the test load was well within the serviceability limits, and that the currently available design guideline tends to over-estimate the surcharge load-induced reinforcement forces. The predicted results for the surcharge load well in excess of the test load indicated that the surcharge load-induced reinforcement strains exponentially decrease with depth, showing a good agreement in qualitative terms with that assumed in the FHWA design guideline. The predicted wall deformation at the allowable bearing pressure of 200 kPa was within the serviceability level demonstrating an excellent load carrying capacity of the GR-SRW. Design implications and the findings from this study are discussed.     

Bottom ash as a backfill material in reinforced soil structures

The paper describes the interface behaviour of bottom ash, obtained from two thermal power plants, and geogrid for possible utilization as a reinforced fill material in reinforced soil structures. Pullout tests were conducted on polyester geogrid embedded in compacted bottom ash samples as per ASTM D6706-01. Locally available natural sand was used as a reference material. The pullout resistance offered by geogrid embedded in bottom ash was almost identical to that in sand. In order to study the influence of placement condition of the material on pullout resistance, test were conducted on uncompacted fill materials. Pullout resistance offered by geogrids embedded in uncompacted specimen reduced by 30–60% than that at the compacted condition.     

浅谈高压喷射注浆法在软地基中的应用

结合工程实际，分析选择了高压喷射桩地基处理方案，阐述了设计要点，技术参数和孔距的确定，检测效果证明，用此法处理软土地基，能在较短的工期内，以较低的成本取得好的加固效果。     

加筋水泥土桩锚在超大超深基坑支护中的应用

泉州浦西万达广场基坑开挖深度为12.3m,核心筒区域开挖深度达17.1m,为超大超深基坑,东南侧为内湖,西侧为变电站,地层特别复杂,基坑工程安全等级为一级,重要性系数取1.1。采用冲孔灌注桩加加筋水泥土桩锚、内支撑及自然放坡联合支护体系。在施工过程中,通过严格对周边环境和支护结构进行监测,通过对基坑坡顶沉降和水平位移的监测成果统计和分析,基坑周边地面的沉降和水平位移等监测数据都是在报警值范围内。加筋水泥土桩锚施工在本项工程超大超深基坑支护的应用是成功的,特别是地层处于淤泥层、细砂层,或其他特种的不良土体,常规锚杆不宜使用容易造成事故,必须采用特种工艺、专业的特种设备和具有确保质量安全施工特种工艺能力的专业施工队伍,才能保证质量安全和工期要求。