External seismic stability of vertical geosynthetic-reinforced soil walls using pseudo-static method

Analysis of external stability of vertical geosynthetic-reinforced soil (GRS) walls is very important in the seismic prone zone. The scope of this paper is to obtain required minimum reinforcement length, L _min, for external seismic stability of vertical GRS walls by pseudo-static limit equilibrium method. Then, L _min can be calculated to resist sliding, eccentricity, and bearing capacity failure modes. The parameters considered include both horizontal and vertical seismic coefficients (k _h and k _v ), surcharge load (q), wall height (H) and the properties of retained backfill, GRS, and foundation soil. Results show that L _min against sliding failure mode, L _min,S , increases more quickly than that against the other two failure modes with the increase in k _h , q, or unit weight of retained backfill, γ _b , while L _min,S decreases more quickly than that against the other two failure modes with increase in friction angle of retained backfill, ? _b , or unit weight of GRS, γ _r . For the different failure modes, the effect of k _v on L _min is not identical with the change of k _h , and in addition, L _min/H will tend to remain unchanged with the increase in H. In general, L _min against bearing capacity failure mode, L _min,BC, is larger than L _min against the other two failure modes. However, L _min,BC will be less than L _min against eccentricity failure mode, L _min,E , for k _h exceeding 0.35, or friction angle of foundation soil, ? _f , exceeding 37°, and L _min,BC will also be less than L _min,S for friction angle of GRS, ? _r , being no more than 26°.