Prediction method for lateral displacements of geosynthetic-reinforced soil walls with segmental block facings

Abstract

Predicting the performance of geosynthetic-reinforced soil walls with segmental block facings in service is a challenging task due to their complex interaction mechanisms. This paper proposes a semi-analytical method to estimate the performance of such walls by considering a prescribed reduction factor. Rough back of the wall and unreinforced zone effects can be taken into account. It also incorporates an empirical formula to consider reinforcement stiffness to accurately characterize the nonlinear interaction between geosynthetics and soil. Seven full-scale tests and three robust numerical simulations were employed to evaluate the proposed method. The results demonstrate satisfactory estimations of lateral displacement and reinforcement force location with a rational reduction factor. Additionally, the physical significance of the reduction factor is identified, and a method for its determination based on data analysis is proposed. This method eliminates the need for sophisticated numerical analyses to determine lateral displacements. Further investigation is required to explore the correlation between the reduction factor and various design parameters, aiming to establish a more generalized formula for predicting the performance of GRS segmental walls.