Centrifuge and numerical model studies on the behaviour of geogrid reinforced soil walls with marginal backfills with and without geocomposite layers

The aim of this paper is to study the effect of geocomposite layers as internal drainage system on the behaviour of geogrid reinforced soil walls with marginal backfills using centrifuge and numerical modelling. A series of centrifuge model tests were carried out using a 4.5 m radius beam centrifuge facility available at IIT Bombay. A seepage condition was imposed to all models to simulate rising ground water condition. Displacement and pore water pressure transducers were used to monitor the performance of all centrifuge models. A geogrid reinforced soil wall without any geocomposite layer experienced catastrophic failure soon after applying seepage due to the development of excess pore water pressure within the reinforced soil zone of the wall. In comparison, reinforced soil wall with two geocomposite layers at the bottom portion of the wall was found to have a good performance at the onset of seepage and by embedding four geocomposite layers up to the mid-height of the wall from bottom as a result of lowering phreatic surface much more effectively. For analysing further the observed behaviour of centrifuge model tests, stability and seepage analysis were conducted using SLOPE/W and SEEP/W software packages. A good agreement was found between the results of numerical analysis and observation made in centrifuge tests. The effect of number of geocomposite layers as well as its transmissivity was further analysed using parametric study. The results of parametric study revealed that the number of geocomposite layers plays a main role on the good performance of the geogrid reinforced soil walls with marginal backfill.     

Centrifuge model tests on the behavior of strip footing on geotextile-reinforced slopes

This paper examines the stability of geotextile-reinforced slopes when subjected to a vertical load applied to a strip footing positioned close to the slope crest. Vertical spacing between geotextile reinforcement was varied while maintaining a constant slope angle, load position, soil density and geotextile type. Small-scale physical tests were conducted using a large beam centrifuge to simulate field prototype conditions. After the model was accelerated to 40g, a load was applied to the strip footing until slope failure occurred. Digital image analysis was performed, using photographs taken in-flight, to obtain slope displacements and strain distribution along the reinforcement layers at different loading pressures during the test and at failure. Stability analysis was also conducted and compared with centrifuge model test results. The vertical spacing between reinforcement layers has a significant impact on the stability of a reinforced slope when subjected to a vertical load. Less vertical distance between reinforcement layers allows the slope to tolerate much greater loads than layers spaced further apart. Distributions of peak strains in reinforcement layers due to the strip footing placed on the surface of the reinforced slope were found to extend up to mid-height of the slope and thereafter they were found to be negligible. Stability analysis of the centrifuge models was found to be consistent with the observed performance of geotextile-reinforced slopes subjected to loading applied to a strip footing near the crest.     

Centrifuge model tests on the use of geosynthetic layer as an internal drain in levees

The objective of the paper is to examine the use of a geosynthetic layer as an internal drain in a levee subjected to flooding through centrifuge model tests. Three levee sections, having an upstream slope of 1V:1H and downstream slope of 1.5V:1H, were modelled at 30 gravities in a 4.5?m radius large beam centrifuge available at IIT Bombay. Out of the three levee sections modelled, one levee section was without any drainage layer (or clogged drain), while the other two had different types of horizontal drainage layers, namely, sand and nonwoven geotextile layer. The flood was induced with the help of a custom developed and calibrated in-flight flood simulator. At the onset of flood and subsequent seepage, pore water pressures within levee section, and surface settlements were measured using pore water transducers (PPTs) and linear variable differential transformer (LVDTs) respectively. Digital image analysis was employed to trace surface settlements, and downstream slope face movements at the onset of flooding during centrifuge tests. Levee section without any horizontal drain or clogged drain experienced a catastrophic failure. In comparison, the levee sections with an internal drain (sand/geotextile) remained stable at the onset of flooding. In the case of a levee with a sand drainage layer, the phreatic surface was observed to confine within the levee section itself, whereas it was found to migrate towards toe gradually in the levee section with a nonwoven geotextile layer. It is attributed to either due to suppression of drainage capacity of nonwoven geotextile layer or due to washing of fine particles into pores of nonwoven geotextile layer. Further, seepage and stability analyses were carried out numerically and compared with centrifuge test results. In order to address blocking of pores of nonwoven geotextile layer, a concept of sandwiching nonwoven geotextile layer with sand was explored. By sandwiching nonwoven geotextile layer with sand on either side, the thickness of drainage layer can be of the order of 0.05H.     

Centrifuge model study on geogrid reinforced soil walls with marginal backfills with and without chimney sand drain

The objective of this paper is to investigate the performance of geogrid reinforced soil walls with panel facing using marginal backfill with and without chimney sand drain subjected to seepage. A series of centrifuge model tests were performed at 40 gravities using a 4.5 m radius large beam centrifuge facility available at IIT Bombay. The results revealed that a geogrid reinforced soil wall with low stiffness geogrid and without any chimney drain experienced a catastrophic failure due to excess pore water pressure that developed in the reinforced and backfill zones at the onset of seepage. In comparison, a soil wall reinforced with stiff geogrid layers was found to perform effectively even at the onset of seepage. Provision of chimney sand drain effectively decreased pore water pressure not only at the wall toe but also at mid-distance from toe of the wall and thereby resulted in enhancing the wall performance under the effect of seepage forces. However, a local piping failure was observed near the toe region of the wall. The observed centrifuge test results were further analysed by performing seepage and stability analyses to evaluate the effect of thickness of sand layer in a chimney drain. An increase in thickness of sand layer in chimney drain was found to improve the discharge values and thereby enhancing the factor of safety against piping near the toe region. Based on the analysis and interpretation of centrifuge test results, it can be concluded that marginal soil can be used as a backfill in reinforced soil walls provided, it has geogrid layers of adequate stiffness and/or proper chimney drain configuration.     

Centrifuge modeling of geotextile-reinforced slopes subjected to differential settlements

Today, geosynthetic-reinforced soil structures are widely used to support bridge abutments and approach roads in place of traditional pile supports and techniques. In such situations, foundation conditions have been shown to adversely affect the stability and deformation behaviour of overlying geosynthetic-reinforced slopes and walls. This paper addresses the response of geotextile-reinforced slopes subjected to differential settlements in a geotechnical centrifuge. Centrifuge model tests were carried out on model geotextile-reinforced sand slopes with two different types of reinforcement. A wrap-around technique was used to represent a flexible facing. In order to initiate failure in the reinforcement layers, the ratio of length of reinforcement to height of the slope was maintained as 0.85. One of the objectives of this paper is to present about a special device developed for inducing differential settlements during centrifuge test at 40g for a reinforced soil structure. A digital image analysis technique was employed to arrive at displacement vectors of markers glued to the reinforcement layers. The displacements were used to compute and analyze the strain distribution along the reinforcement layers during different settlement stages. Results of the centrifuge test indicate that even after inducing a differential settlement equivalent to 1.0 m in prototype dimensions, the geotextile-reinforced soil structure with a flexible facing was not found to experience a collapse failure. Analysis of geotextile strain results shows that the location of the maximum peak reinforcement strain occurs along the bottom-most reinforcement layer at the onset of differential settlements, at the point directly below the crest of the slope.     

Centrifuge modeling of the geotextile reinforced slope subject to drawdown

Geotextile is an effective reinforcement approach of slopes that experiences various loads such as drawdown. The geotextile reinforcement mechanism is essential to effectively evaluate the safety of geotextile-reinforced slopes under drawdown conditions. A series of drawdown centrifuge model tests were performed to investigate the deformation and failure behaviors of slopes reinforced with different geotextile layouts. The deformation and failure of unreinforced and reinforced slopes were compared and the geotextile reinforcement was indicated to significantly increase the safety limit and the ductility, reduce the displacement, and change the failure feature of slopes under drawdown conditions. The slopes exhibited remarkable progressive failure, downward from the slope top, under drawdown conditions. The progressive failure was induced by coupling of deformation localization and local failure based on full-field measurements of displacement of slopes subjected to drawdown. The geotextile reinforced the slope by decreasing and uniformizing the slope deformation by the soil-geotextile interaction. Through geotextile displacement analysis, the geotextile-reinforced slope was divided into the anchoring zone and the restricting zone by a boundary that was independent of the decrease of water level. The geotextile restrained the soil in the anchoring zone and the soil restrained the geotextile in the restricting zone. The reinforcement effect was distinct only when the geotextile was long enough to cross the slip surface of the unreinforced slope under drawdown conditions.     

Centrifuge model test and numerical interpretation of seismic responses of a partially submerged deposit slope

Partially submerged deposit slopes are o ften encountered in practical engineering applications.Howeve r,studies on evaluating their stability under seismic loading are still rare.In order to understand the seismic behavior of partially submerged deposit slopes,centrifuge shaking table model tests(50 g) were employed.The responses of horizontal accelerations,accumulated excess pore pressures,deformation mode,and failure mode of the partially submerged deposit slope model were analyzed.In dynamic centrifuge model tests,EQ5 shaking event was applied numerically.The results indicated that in the saturated zone of the deposit slope,liquefaction did not occur,and the measured horizontal accelerations near the water table were amplified as a layer-magnification effect.It was also shown that the liquefaction-resistance of the deposit slope increased under multiple sequential ground motions,and the deformation depth of the deposit slope induced by earthquake increased gradually with increasing dynamic Ioad amplitude.Except for the excessive crest settlement generated by strong shaking,an additional vertical permanent displacement was initiated at the slope crest due to the dissipation of excess pore pressure under seismic loading.The result of particle image velocimetry(PIV) analysis showed that an obvious internal arc-slip was generated around the water table of the partially submerged deposit slope under seismic loading.     

Shaking table tests on gravel slopes reinforced by concrete canvas

The behaviour and performance of different reinforced slopes during earthquake loading were investigated through a series of shaking table tests. Concrete-canvas and composite reinforcement (geogrid attached to concrete-canvas) were proposed for reinforcing slopes. By considering the effects of different reinforcement methods, the seismic responses of the reinforced slopes were analysed, along with the accelerations, crest settlements, and lateral displacements. The failure patterns of different model slopes were compared using white coral sand marks placed at designated elevations to monitor the internal slide of the reinforced slopes. Both the concrete-canvas and composite reinforcement could increase the safety distance, which ranged from the slide-out point to the back of the model box. The composite reinforcement decreased the volume of the landslide and increased the failure surface angle as a result of the larger global stiffness in the reinforced zone. These results indicate that the recently developed concrete canvas has a better effect on restricting the slope deformation during seismic loading than the nonwoven geotextile reinforcement, and that the use of composite reinforcement could improve the seismic resistance of slopes.     

3D effects of turning corner on stability of geosynthetic-reinforced soil structures

Current design procedures of Geosynthetic-Reinforced Soil Structures (GRSS's) are for walls/slopes with long straight alignments. When two GRSS segments intersect, an abrupt change in the alignment forms a turning corner. Experience indicate potential instability problems occurring at corners. The purpose of this study is to explore the effects of turning corner on the stability of reinforced slopes. Three-dimensional (3D) slope stability analysis, based on limit equilibrium, resulted in the maximum tensile force of reinforcement. Parametric studies required numerous computations considering various geometrical parameters and material properties. The computed results produced efficient practical format of stability charts. For long-term stability of reinforced slopes with turning corner, the influences of pore water pressure and seismic loading are also considered. Turning corner can improve the stability of reinforced slopes by virtue of inclusion of end effects. However, localized increase of pore water pressure or directional seismic amplification may decrease locally thus stability requiring strength of reinforcement larger than in two-dimensional (2D) plane-strain. While using 2D analysis for non-localized conditions may require stronger reinforcement, it also requires shorter reinforcement than in 3D analysis; i.e., 2D analysis may be unconservative in terms of reinforcement length.     

Effect of soil-reinforcement interaction coefficient on reinforcement tension distribution of reinforced slopes

This paper examines the effect of the mobilized reinforcement tension within reinforced soil slope at a different level of soil-geosynthetic interaction. The mobilized reinforcement tension is assumed, in most design methods for the internal stability of reinforced slopes, to be equal to mobilized soil forces computed using a limit equilibrium method. However, comparison with the reinforcement tension force measured in the field has shown that this approach is conservative. This paper examines the effects of the soil-reinforcement interaction coefficient on the tensile redistribution of geosynthetics. The modified process of Bishop Method of slope stability analysis is used to locate the critical slip surface and to calculate the mobilized reinforcement tensile force. The reinforcement forces obtained from field data and on centrifuge model test results for a reinforced slope problem are used to examine the relationship between mobilized reinforcement tensile force and mobilized soil shear strength.     

An experimental evaluation of the behavior of footings on geosynthetic-reinforced sand

This research was performed to investigate the behavior of geosynthetic-reinforced sandy soil foundations and to study the effect of different parameters contributing to their performance using laboratory model tests. The parameters investigated in this study included top layer spacing, number of reinforcement layers, vertical spacing between layers, tensile modulus and type of geosynthetic reinforcement, embedment depth, and shape of footing. The effect of geosynthetic reinforcement on the vertical stress distribution in the sand and the strain distribution along the reinforcement were also investigated. The test results demonstrated the potential benefit of using geosynthetic-reinforced sand foundations. The test results also showed that the reinforcement configuration/layout has a very significant effect on the behavior of reinforced sand foundation. With two or more layers of reinforcement, the settlement can be reduced by 20% at all footing pressure levels. Sand reinforced by the composite of geogrid and geotextile performed better than those reinforced by geogrid or geotextile alone. The inclusion of reinforcement can redistribute the applied footing load to a more uniform pattern, hence reducing the stress concentration, which will result reduced settlement. Finally, the results of model tests were compared with the analytical solution developed by the authors in previous studies; and the analytical solution gave a good predication of the experimental results of footing on geosynthetic reinforced sand.     

软基上加筋防波堤的离心模型试验

通过离心模型试验，研究在有无土工织物加筋垫层条件下防波堤和软基的变形性状，得到了地基沉降、隆起及水平位移的分布规律。提出了一种量测筋材张力的新方法，对土工织物在离心试验过程中的应力状态进行了测试。研究结果表明：土工织物加筋垫层能有效地减小地基的侧向位移，有一定的加筋效果：土工织物张力的发挥水平与堤坝的沉降量密切相关，工作状态下其最大强度发挥水平约为52％。     

Experimental study on repeatedly loaded foundation soil strengthened by wraparound geosynthetic reinforcement technique

In the recent past,the potential benefits of wraparound geosynthetic reinforcement technique for constructing the reinforced soil foundations have been reported.This paper presents the experimental study on the behaviour of model strip footing resting on sandy soil bed reinforced with geosynthetic in wraparound and planar forms under monotonic and repeated loadings.The geosynthetic layers were laid according to the reinforcement ratio to minimise the scale effect.It is found that for the same amount of reinforcement material,the wraparound reinforced model resulted in less settlement in comparison to planar reinforced models.The efficiency of wraparound reinforced model increased with the increase in load amplitude and the rate of total cumulative settlement substantially decreased with the increase in number of load cycles.The wraparound reinforced model has shown about 45% lower average total settlement in comparison to unreinforced model,while the double-layer reinforced model has about 41%lower average total settlement at the cost of approximately twice the material and 1.5 times the occupied land width ratio.Moreover,wraparound models have shown much greater stability in comparison to their counterpart models when subjected to incremental repeated loading.     

Centrifuge model studies on the performance of soil walls reinforced with sand-cushioned geogrid layers

This paper is to investigate the effectiveness of encapsulating geogrid layers within thin sand layers, for enhancing the deformation behavior of vertical reinforced soil walls constructed with marginal backfills. Centrifuge model tests were performed on vertical soil walls, reinforced with geogrid layers, using a 4.5 m radius large beam centrifuge available at IIT Bombay at 40 gravities. The backfill conditions, height of soil wall, reinforcement length, and reinforcement spacing, were kept constant in all the tests. A wrap-around technique was used to represent flexible facing. Three different geogrid types with varying stiffness were used in the present study. The walls were instrumented with vertical linear variable differential transformers to monitor surface settlements during the tests. Marker-based digital image analysis technique was used to determine face movements and distribution of geogrid strain along the wall height. The deformation behavior of soil walls, reinforced with geogrid layers encapsulated in thin layers of sand, were compared against a base model having no sand-cushioned geogrid layers. Provision of sand-cushioned geogrid layers and increase in geogrid stiffness were found to limit normalized face movements (S_f/H), normalized crest settlements (S_c/H), and change in maximum peak reinforcement strain (dε_pmax). Sand-cushioned geogrid layers were also found to limit the development of tension cracks behind and within the reinforced zone. Significant reduction in rate of maximum face movement (dS_fmax/dt) and rate of maximum peak reinforcement strain (dε_pmax/dt) was observed, with an increase in value of normalized reinforcement stiffness (J_g/γH²) of geogrid layers. The analysis and interpretation of centrifuge model tests on soil walls, constructed with marginal backfills and reinforced with sand-cushioned geogrid layers, indicate that their performance is superior to the walls without sand-cushioned geogrid layers.     

A laboratory evaluation of reinforcement loads induced by rainfall infiltration in geosynthetic mechanically stabilized earth walls

A laboratory testing that simulates the mechanisms of a geosynthetic-reinforced layer was used to assess the impact of rainwater infiltration on reinforcement loads and strains in mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) walls. The testing device allows measuring loads transferred from a backfill soil subjected simultaneously to surcharge loading and controlled irrigation. Load-strain responses of geosynthetic-reinforced layers constructed with three different geosynthetics under a moderate rainfall are related to suction captured along the depth of reinforced layers. Results show infiltration leading to increases on strains and tensile loads mobilized by reinforcements. Rates of increases of both parameters were found to be dependent of global suction, geosynthetic stiffness and hydraulic properties. In addition, increases in water content at soil-geotextile interfaces due to capillary breaks also had a significant effect on mobilized loads. The loss of interaction due to the interface wetting was observed to affect the stress transference from soil to geosynthetic reinforcement. An approach suggested for calculation of lateral earth pressures in unsaturated GMSE walls under working stress conditions and subjected to rainfall infiltration demonstrated a reasonable agreement with experimental data.     

Shear strength characteristics of geosynthetic reinforced rubber-sand mixtures

Shear strength characteristics of the geosynthetic-reinforced rubber-sand mixture (RSM) has been investigated by conducting Unconsolidated Undrained (UU) triaxial test. In the first part, a series of UU triaxial tests have been carried out to know the size effect of granulated rubber/tyre chips from seven different rubber sizes. RSM sample that provides higher strength, energy absorption capacity and stiffness is considered as the optimal size and has been used in the investigation on geosynthetic-reinforced RSM. In the second part, shear strength characteristics of geosynthetic-reinforced RSM has been investigated by varying proportions of rubber content (50% and 75% rubber by volume), type of geosynthetic (geotextile, geogrid and geonets), number of geosynthetics (1–4) layers, geosynthetic arrangement and confining pressure. The results demonstrate that RSM reinforced with geosynthetic has enhanced peak strength, failure strength and corresponding axial strain at failure. Fifty percent RSM reinforced by geotextile and 75% RSM reinforced by geonets with 4 layers of reinforcement, led to a maximum increase in shear strength. The strength and energy absorption capacity are doubled for the reinforced RSM's, and reduced the brittleness index values as close to zero, which depends on the type, number of layers and arrangement of geosynthetic.     

Centrifuge modeling of geotextile-reinforced cohesive slopes

Geosynthetics are widely used to reinforce slopes due to their successful performance and economical efficiency. A series of centrifuge model tests was conducted in order to investigate the behavior of the geotextile-reinforced cohesive slopes and to compare their behavior to unreinforced slopes. The displacement history of the slopes was measured using an image analysis system. The failure process of an unreinforced slope can be categorized into three stages: (1) uniform deformation stage; (2) strain localization stage; and (3) post-failure stage. The geotextile has a significant effect on the deformation of the slope and increases the stability level while affecting the failure modes. On a reinforced slope, two surfaces can result from the distribution of the displacement difference between the unreinforced and the corresponding reinforced slopes; thus, the slope can be categorized into three zones. The front zone is characterized as a restricted region that is subjected to a backward tension via the geotextile while the middle zone is mainly subjected to a forward tension (like a support body). The back zone is unaffected by the geotextile. The reinforcement can take effect when its length is longer than the effective reinforcement length. The effective reinforcement length usually increases with increasing elevation and is significantly affected by the inclination of the slope.     

Effect of footing shape and load eccentricity on behavior of geosynthetic reinforced sand bed

This paper presents the results from a laboratory modeling tests and numerical studies carried out on circular and square footings assuming the same plan area that rests on geosynthetic reinforced sand bed. The effects of the depth of the first and second layers of reinforcement, number of reinforcement layers on bearing capacity of the footings in central and eccentral loadings are investigated. The results indicated that in unreinforced condition, the ultimate bearing capacity is almost equal for both of the footings; but with reinforcing and increasing the number of reinforcement layers the ultimate bearing capacity of circular footing increased in a higher rate compared to square footing in both central and eccentrial loadings. The beneficial effect of a geosynthetic inclusion is largely dependent on the shape of footings. Also, by increasing the number of reinforcement layers, the tilt of circular footing decreased more than square footing. The SR (settlement reduction) of the reinforced condition shows that settlement at ultimate bearing capacity is heavily dependent on load eccentricity and is not significantly different from that for the unreinforced one. Also, close match between the experimental and numerical load-settlement curves and trend lines shown that the modeling approach utilized in this study can be reasonably adapted for reinforced soil applications.     

Evaluation of permeability characteristics of a geosynthetic-reinforced soil through laboratory tests

The objective of this paper is to examine the permeability characteristics of geosynthetic layers under confinement with soils having relatively low permeability. For this purpose, a large permeameter was custom designed and a series of permeability tests were carried-out by varying soil type and number of geosynthetic layers. Further, effect of provision of sand cushion and the thickness of sand cushion on permeability characteristics was also examined. Normal stress was increased in intervals of 50 kPa up to 200 kPa. With an increase in normal stress, a decrease in the permeability characteristics of a geosynthetic-reinforced soil was observed. The permeability characteristics were found to improve significantly with the provision of sand cushion and an increase in its thickness. Based on the definition of equivalent coefficient of permeability of stratified soils for parallel flow, an equation for estimating coefficient of permeability of soil–geosynthetic system with and without sand cushion is proposed. Considering the application of geosynthetics in reinforced slopes and walls with low-permeable backfill soils, a suitable geosynthetic with a thin layer of sand cushion is recommended. This in turn can also help in enhancing the pore-water pressure dissipation.     

土工格栅加筋边坡坡顶条基极限荷载的预测

通过土工合成材料加固的边坡,承载能力显著提高,因而获得广泛应用。为了合理的评价加筋边坡的坡顶条形基础的极限荷载,制作了足尺寸模型并进行了试验,采用延性较好但强度较低的聚丙烯(PP)土工格栅对边坡进行了加固,在坡顶通过条形基础(钢梁)施加荷载直至边坡破坏,获得了极限荷载以及边坡的变形和破坏规律,通过细致的测试手段,详细地捕捉到模型的力学响应。在此基础上,通过校验的FLAC数值模型,对土工格栅加筋边坡的承载能力进行了预测,得到了满意的结果。