Static structural behavior of geogrid reinforced soil retaining walls with a deformation buffer zone

To understand the structural behavior of geogrid reinforced soil retaining walls (GRSW) with a deformation buffer zone (DBZ) under static loads, the model tests and the numerical simulations were conducted to obtain the wall face horizontal displacement, vertical and horizontal soil pressures, and geogrid strains. Results showed that compared with the common GRSW, the horizontal displacement of GRSW with DBZ decreased, and the horizontal soil pressure acting on the face panel of GRSW with DBZ increased. The vertical and horizontal soil pressures showed a nonlinear distribution along the reinforcement length, and the value was smaller near the face panel. The horizontal soil pressure acting on the face panel of GRSW with DBZ was greater than that of the common GRSW in the middle portion. The cumulative strain of the geogrid had a single-peak distribution along its length; the maximum strain of the geogrid was 0.45%, the maximum tension was approximately 29.12% of ultimate tensile strength.