Reinforced Earth Structures

Dr. P. NANJUNDASWAMY
Professor of Civil Engineering

S J College of Engineering
Mysore – 570 006
Contact : 94492 64365
pnswamy@yahoo.com
 Outline

1. Introduction

2. Applications - Examples

3. Principles and Mechanism

4. Advantages and Limitations

Dr. P. Nanjundaswamy SJCE Mysore 2

 Evolution of total amount of
Reinforced Earth built worldwide
250
250

200
200
Facing area in Lakh sq. m

145
150

100
100
60
50 35
5 11
0
0
1965 1975 1985 1995 2005

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 Introduction
Use of Soil in Civil Engineering Practice
• Construction material (earth dam,
embankments)
• Manufacture of bricks, tiles, earthenware
• Fill material behind retaining walls,
abutments . . .
• Foundation material

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 Introduction….
Ground Improvement
 In-situ soil treatment
Stabilization chemical injection or grouting
Pre-compression
Vibroflotation
Dynamic compaction
Electro-osmosis
 Soil reinforcement
Piles
Stone columns
Metallic or non-metallic elements
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 Introduction….

Nicholson (2015)
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 Reinforced Earth - Examples

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 Reinforced Earth - Examples

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 Reinforced Earth - Examples

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 Reinforced Earth - Examples

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 Reinforced Earth - Examples

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 Reinforced Earth - Examples

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 Reinforced Earth - Examples

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 Reinforced Earth - Examples

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 Reinforced Earth - Examples

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 Reinforced Earth - Examples

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 Reinforced Earth - Examples

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 Reinforced Earth - Examples

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 Reinforced Earth - Examples

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 Reinforced Earth - Examples

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 Reinforced Earth - Examples

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 Reinforced Earth - Examples

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 Reinforced Earth - Examples
Before

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 Reinforced Earth - Examples
During

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 Reinforced Earth - Examples
After

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 Reinforced Earth - Examples
Reconstruction of the slope of embankment
using GRS-RWs having a FHR facing for a
track of bullet trains (Shinkan-Sen)

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 Reinforced Earth - Examples

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 Reinforced Earth - Examples

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 Reinforced Earth - Examples

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 Reinforced Earth - Examples

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 Reinforced Earth - Examples

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 Reinforced Earth - Examples

COASTAL EROSION

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 Reinforced Earth - Examples

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 Reinforced Earth - Examples

Geotextile as separator & filter

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 Reinforced Earth - Examples

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 Reinforced Earth - Examples

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 Reinforced Earth - Examples

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 Reinforced Earth - Examples

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 Reinforced Earth - Examples
Pavement Topsoil
Stone 450 mm
base
GT
400 mm Crushed
Soil subgrade stone/
300 mm perforated
pipe

(GT Filter in Excavated Trench) (Crushed Stone & Perforated Pipe)

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 Reinforced Earth - Examples
• many old tunnels without GMs are leaking
• white staining on surface is the “tell-tale”
• key is to use a GT and GM behind the permanent concrete surfacing
• in turn, this requires a GP drainage system

Tunnel Waterproofing

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 Reinforced Earth - Examples

Rehabilitation
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 Reinforced Earth - Examples

Rehabilitation

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 In this Course

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 In this Course
Basics of Reinforced Earth
 General
 Origin
 Definition
 Principles
 Mechanism and Concept
 Components
 Advantages and Disadvantages
 Application areas
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 In this Course . . .
Geosynthetics
 Introduction and Overview
 Classification
 Functions
 Manufacturing methods
 Characteristics and Testing

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 In this Course . . .
Design of Reinforced Earth Structures
 Retaining walls
 Embankments
 Earth Dams and Slopes
 Foundation structures

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 In this Course . . .
Soil Nailing Techniques
 Mechanism
 Methods of Soil Nailing
 Construction Sequence
 Design Aspects

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 In this Course . . .
Geosynthetics for other applications
 Filter and Drain
 Landfills
 Roads

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 References
Design with Geosynthetics
Robert M. Koerner
Fifth Edition 2005
Pearson Prentice Hall
ISBN 0-13-145415-3

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 References . . .
An Introduction to Soil Reinforcement
and Geosynthetics
Shivakumar Babu G. L.
First Published 2005
Orient Blackswan
ISBN 978-81-737-14818

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 References . . .
Earth Reinforcement and Soil Structures
Colin J F P Jones
Third Edition 1996
Thomas Telford
ISBN 978-0-727-73489-1

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 References . . .
Geosynthetics and their applications
Edited by
Sanjay Kumar Shukla
First Published 2002
Thomas Telford Limited
ISBN 0-7277-3117-3

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 References . . .
Geosynthetics in Civil Engineering
Edited by
Sarsby R. W.
First Published 2007
Woodhead Publishing Ltd.
and CRC Press
ISBN 978-1-85573-607-8

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 References . . .
Fundamentals of Geosynthetic Engineering
Sanjay Kumar Shukla
Jian-Hua Yin
First Published 2006
Taylor & Francis Group
ISBN 978-0-415-39444-4

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 References . . .
• Reinforced Soil and its Engineering
Applications
Swami Saran
I. K. International Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi, 2006
• Engineering with Geosynthetics
Ed. G.V.V. Rao & G.V.S.S. Raju
TMH, India, 1996

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 References . . .
Reinforced Earth and Geosynthetics
My Notes
Revised 2014

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 Concept, Principles and
Mechanism

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 Definition

Composite material formed by

embedding reinforcing material in a
soil fill.

Reinforcing elements interact with soil

through friction and/or adhesion and
able to resist tensile stresses.

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 Principles

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 Principles….

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 Principles….

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 Principles….

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 Principles….
Concept
Frictional earth-reinforcement interaction
Interaction between soil and reinforcement
- a sort of restraint on the soil mass
• Equivalent confining stress concept
• Pseudo-cohesion concept

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 Principles….
Equivalent confining stress concept
σ1 σ1+Δσ1

Δ σ3 Δσ3

σ3 σ3 σ3 σ3
Δ σ3 Δσ3

σ1 σ1+Δσ1

Unreinforced Soil Reinforced Soil

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 Principles….
Equivalent confining stress concept

Reinforced Soil

Unreinforced Soil

Equivalent Confining Stress σ

σ3 Δ σ3
σ1 Δ σ1

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 Principles….
Pseudo-cohesion concept
σ1 σ1+Δσ1

σ3 Ø only σ3 σ3 C and Ø σ3

σ1 σ1+Δσ1

Unreinforced Soil Reinforced Soil

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 Principles….
Pseudo-cohesion concept

Reinforced Soil

Unreinforced
Soil
Ø

c
Ø

σ
σ3
σ1 Δσ1

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 Mechanism
Stress on soil mass
– strain in soil
– transmit tensile load to
reinforcement

Tensile fore is not constant

– exhibits peaks

Line of maximum tensile force

– potential failure surface

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 Advantages
• Cost effective
• Ease and rapidity of construction
Std prefabricated elements
• Adaptability to various slopes &
soil conditions
mid size construction equipment
• Flexibility
• Aesthetic

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 Disadvantages
• Non availability of suitable fill material
• Suitable design criteria
Corrosion, deterioration and degradation
• Shared responsibility
Material suppliers, designers, contractors
and engineers
• Design and construction practice
Standardization of specifications, and
contracting practices

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 Thank you

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