The use of polymeric and metallic geogrid on a full-scale MSE wall/embankment on hard foundation: a comparison of field data with simulation

Abstract

A full-scale reinforced earth embankment was designed and constructed by the Department of Highways of Thailand on a hard foundation in Phitsanulok Province, Thailand. Two types of reinforcement were used in the embankment. One side was reinforced with polymeric reinforcement consisting of polyester (PET), polypropylene (PP) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and referred to as a reinforced steep slope (RSS), with an angle of 70° from horizontal. On the other side, the embankment was reinforced with metallic reinforcement consisting of metallic strips (MS) and steel wire grids (SWG) combined with vertical segmental concrete facing and referred to as a mechanically stabilised earth wall (MSEW). The behaviour of the reinforced soil slope and the mechanically stabilised earth wall on a hard foundation were observed and compared with predictions from the PLAXIS 3D software. The lateral displacements and settlements were very small in the case of the MSEW with inextensible reinforcement. The corresponding lateral and vertical deformations in the RSS were much larger due to its extensible reinforcing materials. The stiffnesses of the reinforcing materials decrease in the following order: MS, SWG, PP, HDPE and PET. The results obtained from three-dimensional (3D) finite element method simulations (using PLAXIS 3D) were in good agreement with the field measurements in terms of vertical and lateral deformations and strains in the reinforcement.