Load Resistance Factor Design Using Target Reliability Approach for External Seismic Stability of Reinforced Soil Walls

Abstract

Design rules for reinforced soil walls are being developed using reliability methods, and expressed in Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD) format. The main objective of the paper is to summarize the development of methodology and reliability-based LRFD guidelines for reinforced soil structures. First order reliability method (FORM) is used to estimate the probability of failure in four modes of failure viz. sliding, bearing, overturning∖eccentricity failure. Load and resistance factors needed to maintain the stability against four modes of failure by targeting component reliability indices of 3.0 and 4.0 are obtained for various values of coefficients of variation (COV) of friction angle of backfill and foundation soil and horizontal seismic acceleration coefficient. The results have been provided in the tabular form.