Earth-retaining Structures Research Articles

Reliability Analysis of Reinforced Earth Retaining Structures Subjected To Earthquake Loading

In this paper earth retaining walls reinforced with geotextiles are investigated. The failure model considered is a special internal one, where the failure plain cuts through the geotextile layers. Horizontal earthquake forces are introduced to allow a seismic resistant design. Parametric studies indicate that, for the failure model considered, the toe of the reinforced wall is its most sensitive part. Based on the probabilistic safety concept a reliability analysis is carried out and design factors are derived, which permit the assessment of the safety of the structure in an easy and convenient way. More detailed earthquake related studies are carried out in order to compare the design situation between Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto. It is found that the construction of reinforced earth retaining structures appears to be feasible in Osaka and Kyoto, whereas in Tokyo, because of its prominent earthquake record, especially the toe of the wall has to be designed with great caution in order to ensure the probability of failure to remain acceptably small.

Earth walls: Making the right choice : Munfakh, G A Civ Engng, N YV61, N2, Feb 1991, P48–51

Earth walls are retaining walls where the ground assumes a load-bearing role. These walls either support compacted earth (embankment-type reinforced compacted earth walls such as Doublewal and gabion types) or ground excavations (in situ ground reinforcement structures such as secant piles and H-Z systems). There are nine major selection factors: soil characteristics, strain compatibility, ground water level, construction considerations, right-of-way, aesthetics, durability and maintenance, cost, and politics and tradition. Three projects demonstrating the process of selection of an appropriate retaining structure are the access roads for the H-3 tunnel in Hawaii, the ventilation system for Canada's Mount McDonald Tunnel and the Canton-Seagirt facility holding excavated material from Baltimore's Fort McHenry Tunnel. A longer version of this paper, with more case histories and details, is in the proceedings of ASCE's 1990 Design and Performance of Earth Retaining Structures conference.

Expert systems applications in computer-aided design

Rule-based expert system shells are demonstrated to be useful in elementary design decision making. Two applications are presented which utilise the BUILD shell. The first is concerned with the selection and design of earth-retaining structures and makes use of passive graphics in descriptions. The second is concerned with the analysis and synthesis of kitchens and uses graphics to allow the user to interact with the system. Such systems are useful when the range of options is small.

Earth pressure and earth-retaining structures : Clayton, C R I; Milititsky, J London: Surrey University Press, 1986, 300P

Earth pressure and earth-retaining structures : Clayton, C R I; Milititsky, J London: Surrey University Press, 1986, 300P

Performance and design of slurry walls in soft clay : Karlsrud, K Norw Geotech Inst PublN149, 1983, 9P

Extensive field tests on instrumentation, construction control, etc. were carried out on the performance and design of slurry trench walls in soft clay. These tests were designed to establish criteria and methods for evaluating the stability of slurry-filled trenches in soft day, to acquire data on the practical aspects of such construction, and to determine the performance of slurry-trench walls as earth-retaining structures. This article documents some of the extensive data that was gathered. The study found that there were on particular problems associated with construction of slurry-trench walls in soft clay. It is possible to construct such walls in soft clay with only clean water as supporting fluid. The special use of cross-lot walls to prevent bottom heave failure functioned well for two tunnel projects that were studied. For economical design, it is necessary to apply analytical methods that account for the interaction between soil-wall and support system and the actual sequence of excavation and installation of supports. It was found that earth pressures increased with time after completion of construction and approached the at-rest condition.