Numerical modeling of coastal dykes reinforcement Using Geo-synthetic

materials
A.Y. Daghigh & A. Tolooiyan
A.A. Soil conservation and watershed management research center (SCWMRI), IRAN
B. H. Shahroozifar
B. Azad Islamic University

ABSTRACT: One of the subjects that should be considered in design of coastal dykes is the stability and
reinforcement of dyke body and its bed. In this paper with pointing on two customary reinforcement methods
of coastal dykes, the reinforcement of HENDIJAN coastal dyke (with 40 kilometers length at Khozestan
province) has investigated. The results of these two methods has compared with each others. The First
method is reinforcement by utilize geo-textile filaments in parallel layers in dyke body. The second method is
utilize a layer of geo-textile in the bed of dyke. Presented analyzes simulated by PLAXIS FEM model
(Developed by Delft University of Netherlands). Utilized different material parameters have used as for
available materials at project site in south coasts of Iran. In this paper, decrease of lateral slope of dyke as for
suitable stability, is most cared. The results of analysis indicate better efficiency and economic profit by
utilize a layer of geo-textile in the bed of dyke.

1 INTRODUCTION - 0.7 of Embankment height

Coastal dykes have designed and made of terrestrial
or another suitable material to protect the costal
lands and the structures which are behind the coast.
At recent years, utilize this structures has increased,
and recent improvement in materials and polymer
science (geo-textile materials) leads to decrease the
total costs of coastal projects.
Used simulator in this research is "PLAXIS Version
7.2 FEM model for Soil and Rock Analysis", which
can analyze terrestrial dams, coastal dykes, tunnels,
foundation, geo-textile materials, beams and etc. by
utilize ELASTO-PLASTIC models [2]. Since the
length of coastal dykes usually passes several ten
kilometers (40 kilometers at Hendijan project), any
optimization on dyke slopes, leads to increase in
land restoration and decrease in structural costs.
Therefore utilizing geo-textile in these projects has
economical and technological justification.
2 STUDIES BACKGROUND
FHWA [3], under the title of one of the primeval
organization which has done many simulation in
embankments reinforcing, after researches
deliberation on length of reinforcement materials,
offers bottom quantities backgrounds under the title
of suitable length of reinforcement materials:
- 2.5 meters
In case of spacing between reinforcement materials,
the optimization of analyze results must be distinct
based on kind of applications and environmental
conditions. Also when the dyke based on a weak
foundation a layer of geo-textile used in dyke
foundation to foundation reinforcement. Researches
show that the reinforcement material resistance has
effects on safety factor, and with its increase safety
factor will be increased [3].
3 MODEL MAKING AND ANALYZE METHOD
In this stage because available version of PLAXIS
only able to analyze reinforcement materials in
tensional estimate, to analyze the effects of used
reinforcement materials hardness, analyzes have
done with various modules (100 kN/m to 2000
kN/m) and the safety factor of each module have
estimated. Changes of safety factors toward
replacement for top of a dyke with 100 kN/m to
1000 kN/m modules, have shown In figure (1), and
comparative chart of various modules and safety
factors of each of them have shown in figure (2).
Just as shown, at first, increase of module has an
intense effect on safety factor but after that, going to
be an asymptote [1].
1000 Hardness module has chosen under the title of
reinforcement material optimum module by utilize
figure (2), and all of the analyzes have done by
utilize this module which has high safety factor.
Figure 1- Plaxis output graph for Sensitivity measuring of
geo-textile filaments module on safety factor
Figure 2- Sensitivity measuring of geo-textile filaments module
toward safety factor
There are two methods to reinforcing the
embankments by utilize geo-textile filaments.
First method:
Embankment reinforcement by utilize geo-textile
layers inside embankment body, as similar which
has shown in figure (3) [5].
Figure 3- Embankment reinforcement by utilize geo-textile
layers inside the embankment body
Second method:
Embankment reinforcement by utilize a geo-textile
layer inside embankment foundation as similar
which has shown in Figure (4) and Figure (5) [5].
Figure 4- Embankment reinforcement by utilize a geo-textile
layer inside embankment foundation
Figure 5- Embankment reinforcement by utilize a geo-textile
layer inside embankment foundation
In first method, geo-textile materials situated inside
the dyke body horizontally, and in second method,
reinforce the dyke foundation by utilize a geo-textile
layer over the foundation bed. Designed 2D section
of HENDIJAN coastal dyke which used in PLAXIS
simulation analyzes has shown in figure(6). Dyke
height is 4 meters and the height of water level at
seaward is 3 meters which has situated on a 10
meters thickness microlithic layer [1]. Land
recovering, agriculture and fishing development at
HENDIJAN delta and coastal dyke construct
optimization are the targets of mentioned project.
Figure 6-Simulated section of dyke core by utilize PLAXIS
simulator
The analyses in the first method are as below:
1- Study the necessary length of reinforcement
materials and comparison with mooted cases.
2- Study the spacing between reinforcement
materials and comparison with obtained optimum
length at the End of Construction1 or waterless
condition.
3- Study the spacing between reinforcement
materials and comparison with obtained optimum
length at Steady State Flow Condition2 or full water
level up to 3 meters height.

The analysis in the second method is as below:
Study the effect of a geo-textile layer inside the dyke
foundation on total stability of dyke, at the End of
Construction and Steady State Flow Condition.
It is necessary to mention that, at the End of
Construction analysis, after calculation the initial
stress of foundation, the weight of dyke and arrival
forces to dyke crest, have entered to model. Also at
Steady State Flow analysis, after construction of
dyke, the water level in seaward increased to 3
meters up to sea bed. This exertion is equal as
maximum tide (flux) level. Later the seepage
analysis has done on the model. At the end, the
results of different safety factors have checked and
compared.
Figure 8-The effect of reinforcement spacing on safety factor
In embankment body
As shown in figure (8), spacing between geo-textile
has petty effects on safety factor. The reason of that
is being weak foundation, and rupture will start in
base bed. The effect of this reinforcement is much
clear in figure (9). At the end of construction,
spacing between reinforcement has a weak effect on
dyke stability. At steady state seepage, since critical
unstable slice enwind a far area by water force
effect, when geo-textile filaments have 0.5 meter
spacing (geo-textile heavy aggregation),
reinforcement has more effect. With increasing the
spacing, this manner going to be less, in order that at
1 meter spacing, the reinforcement has no effect.

4 ANALYZE RESULTS

Geo-textile strength and length effect on safety

factor (according to a coefficient of dyke height) has
shown in Figure (7). The length which is equal to
0.75H (75% of dyke height) is optimum length,
which is in accordance with FHWA [3] range.

Figure 9-Reinforcement effect on safety factor in embankment

body at the End of Construction and Steady seepage Condition

Table 1-Reinforcement spacing effect on safety factor increase

(in percentage)

Figure 7- The effect of geo-textile strength and length on safety

factor

After obtaining the optimum length, considering

different spacing of geo-textiles as a fraction of dike
height (1/8, 1/6, 1/4), the effect of this item on safety
factor is investigated. Figure (8) shows safety factors
of using different reinforcement spacing at the End
of Construction and Steady State Flow Condition.
As shown in table (1), maximum effect of
reinforcement is at steady seepage condition with
0.5 meter spacing. Safety factor increase of 0.5
meter spacing is almost 7%, for 0.75 meter is almost
4% and for 1 meter spacing is almost zero.
At next stage, a geo-textile layer has used over the
dyke bed. Figure (10) shows the graphical output by
PLAXIS model. The reinforced and non reinforced
condition of safety factor analysis at the End of
Construction and Steady Seepage Condition are
presented.
Figure 10-Foundation reinforcement effect on safety factor
As shown in Table (2), this reinforcement method
has a great effect on safety factor at both of End of
Construction and Steady Seepage Condition. By soil
reinforcement, safety factor increase is 4.3% at the
end of construction and 8.1% at steady seepage
condition.
Table 2-Safety factor comparison between reinforced and non
reinforced foundation
As shown in table (3), at second method (foundation
reinforcement) in addition to safety factor increases,
the used geo-textile length is less than first method
(embankment body reinforcement).
Above parameters, manifest foundation
reinforcement suitable effect on total dyke stability.
Table (3)-Total necessary length of geo-textile in
first and second method (per unit of dyke length)
Comparison of different analysis result, delineated
that, at first method with 47 and 35 meters and at
least 29 meters length (one meter geo-textile
spacing), there is no safety factor noteworthy
increase at the end of construction condition [refer to
figure(9)]. But, only with 20 meters length at second
method, there is much better results in safety factor
increase [refer to table (2)].
After analyzing and characterize the best
reinforcement method, the slope of dyke body was
checked. by slope decrease from 2:1, least reinforced
slope which has all safety factor standards
characterized [3]. At utilize second method
(foundation reinforcement) dyke body slope
decrease from 2:1 to 1.4:1 and the amount of soil
activities decreased note-worthily [refer to table(4)].
Table 4-Bed reinforcement effect on soil activities
In these study we found that; by utilize foundation
reinforcement 200,000m2 equal with 20 hectare of
coastal lands which had been under the dyke core
reclaimed, and its economic value as for short
distance from project site to city center and high cost
of lands, is over 20,000,000,000 Rial (2500000 $).
5 INFERRING
Finalizing the different methods of reinforcements;
using geo-synthetic in dyke slope as a first method
an using one layer of geo-textile in base as a second
method, it is concluded that the second method is
more economic than first method. Also from the
results of analysis, these points are extracted:
1- By study on necessary length of geo-synthetic for
slope stability increase, founded that the optimum
length is 75% of dyke height and this amount is
according to FHWA [3]. Also, the dyke slope
reinforcement has not any noteworthy effect on total
safety factor increase.
2- As for that at HENDIJAN project site, foundation
layer is soft soil, therefore by reinforcement the
connection surface of dyke body to foundation,
concluded that safety factor increase noteworthy
than first method. So under the title of one parameter
of reinforcement, we advance to reinforcing the
connection place of dyke body to foundation. Also
in this method geo-synthetic materials amount
decreases about 45% than side slope reinforcement.
6 REFERENCES

[1]. Soil Conservation and Watershed Management

Research Center, 1383(A.H), Coastal dyke
optimization in inter-tidal dams, “Case study on
Delta of HENDIJAN river”, incipient project report, Figure (A-4): Un-stability slice of reinforced dyke at steady
Project Code: 2-003-04-0000-83005. seepage
[2]. Brinkgreve, R. B. J., P. A.Vermeer, (1998) spacing between Length of
Safety factor
“Manual of Plaxis, Finite Element Code for Soil and geo-textiles (meter) geo-textiles (meter)
Rock Analyses”, A. A. Balkema, Rotterdam, 1.565 0.75 3
Netherlands
[3].FHWA , (2004), “Effects of Geo-synthetic Rein-
forcement Spacing on the Behavior of Mechanically
Stabilized Earth”, United States Department of
Transportation - Federal Highway Administration
[4]. Floss. R and G. Bräu, (1998), “Design
Funundamentals for Geo-synthetic Soil Technique” Figure (A-5): Un-stability slice of reinforced dyke at the end of
Technische Universität München, Zentrum construction
Geotechnik, Germany spacing between Length of
Safety factor
[5]. Phillips, M. Bruce, (2001), “Design of geo-textiles (meter) geo-textiles (meter)
Stream-bank Stabilization with Geo-grid Reinforced 1.634 1 3
Earth Systems”, Member, ASCE, April

7 APPENDIX

PLAXIS output models

Figure (A-6): Un-stability slice of reinforced dyke at steady
seepage
spacing between Length of
Safety factor
geo-textiles (meter) geo-textiles (meter)
1.506 1 3

Figure (A-1): Un-stability slice of reinforced dyke at the end of

construction
spacing between Length of
Safety factor
geo-textiles (meter) geo-textile (meter)
1.639 0.5 3

Figure (A-7): Un-stability slice of reinforced dyke at the end of

construction
spacing between Length of
Safety factor
geo-textiles (meter) geo-textiles (meter)
1.706 0 20
Figure (A-2): Un-stability slice of reinforced dyke at steady
seepage
spacing between Length of
Safety factor
geo-textiles (meter) geo-textiles (meter)
1.608 0.5 3

Figure (A-8): Un-stability slice of reinforced dyke at steady

seepage
spacing between Length of
Safety factor
geo-textiles (meter) geo-textiles (meter)
1.623 0 20
Figure (A-3): Un-stability slice of reinforced dyke at the end of
construction
spacing between Length of
Safety factor
geo-textiles (meter) geo-textiles (meter)
1.632 0.75 3