Field Behavior of Instrumented Geogrid Soil Reinforced Wall

Abstract

An earth‐reinforced retaining wall utilizing geogrids with full‐height precast concrete wall facing is instrumented. Measurements include movements of wall faces, lateral earth pressure, vertical stress in the soil mass, strains in the soil mass, and strains along the geogrids. A comparison is made between observed behavior and design assumptions and calculations. Based on this comparison, the following statements can be made: (1) Computation of maximum tension in the geogrids using the standard design procedure is in general satisfactory; (2) a part of the lateral earth pressure is transferred to the full‐height concrete facing, which is not considered in the design; (3) the distribution of vertical stress measured in the reinforced soil mass is nonlinear with the lowest value at the wall facing and this is contrary to the linear distribution assumed in the design calculations.