Progressive failure and shear band development within model-scale reinforced soil walls subject to seismic shaking

Abstract

This paper discusses the results of an experimental study on model geosynthetic-reinforced soil (GRS) walls constructed with full-height rigid (FHR) facing. Ground accelerations, external deformations and localised strain fields were tracked, while stepped-amplitude sinusoidal seismic shaking events were applied via a shake table. The results of one of seven shake table tests are presented here, with a focus on the evolution of the pre-failure deformation of the wall at the end of the reinforced zone. This study shows that the deformation of ductile GRS walls with FHR facing subjected to seismic shaking is a progressive process of shear band development with depth as the wall rotates and, ultimately, translates towards failure.