Model test on sand retaining wall reinforced with denti-strip inclusions

Abstract

In conventional reinforced soil structures, the reinforcements are often laid horizontally in the soil. In this paper, a new concept of soil reinforced with denti-strip inclusions was proposed and a series of laboratory model tests were carried out on sand retaining wall reinforced with denti-strip inclusions. Besides the horizontal displacements of the facing, the lateral earth pressures acting on vertical elements were measured. A microscopic measurement was performed to investigate the deformation and progressive failure of the sand within model retaining wall. Based on the image analytical technique, the bearing capability and interaction mechanism of reinforced sand retaining wall were analyzed. The model of the initial shear failure and potential failure surface were also put forward. From the experimental results, it is shown that denti-strip inclusions can increase the bearing capability of retaining wall significantly and restrict the facing displacements efficiently, as compared with conventional horizontal reinforcement.