Ground Shock Resistance of Mechanically Stabilized Earth Walls

Abstract

A simple analytical method has been developed that characterizes plane shock wave propagation through reinforced soil and the dynamic interaction between soil and retaining wall panels. The shock wave attributable to an explosion in the backfill was modeled as a velocity boundary condition at a standoff distance from the wall. The exact solution to this problem was obtained using the Laplace transform method. Full-scale explosive test data from 4.6-m-high and 24-m-wide reinforced soil walls were used to validate the analytical methodology. The accuracy of the analytical method has further been verified by finite-element analysis. The method is adequate for the response analysis of mechanically stabilized embankment walls under ground shock attributable to an explosion in the backfill.