1.
Historical Development
2. Main components of MSE:
Mechanically stabilized earth walls are structures which are made
using steel or geosynthetic soil reinforcements (Geotextile or
Geogrids), which are placed in layers within a controlled granular
fill. The main components are facing units, reinforcing elements,
backfill soil and suitable drainage system.
(a) Facing units
Facing is a component of the reinforced soil system
used to prevent soil from spilling out, it has many
types, many shapes.
Facing units should has the following characteristics:
Facing is usually prefabricated.
Facing can be flexible or stiff.
It is made from steel, aluminum or reinforced concrete.
The units must be suitable in size and weight.
Skin must be strong enough to hold the soil at its back.
The facing units require a small foundation.
(b) Reinforcing elements
For metalic strips reinforcements:
The most common being galvanized steel.
Each element is a thin strip of metal.
Typical 50-100 mm wide and up to 9 mm thick.
Rate of corrosion for galvanized 0.025 –0.05 mm/year.
Both of stainless steel and aluminum can also be used.
For geosynthetic reinforcements:
It should be Non-biodegradable fabric.
The nominal rib Thickness is about 0.50 to 1.50 mm.
Strain level about 2%
Tensile modulus varies between 1.82 t/m and 43.8 t/m.
In the calculation of ultimate tensile strength of
Geogrids, there is a suitable factor of safety against
creep, installation damage, chemical degradation and
biological degradation.
(c) For Backfill soil
It should be cohesionless soil since it gives good
fictional resistance, Free draining and less corrosive.
3. Advantages of Reinforced Earth Walls
Require less site preparation than other alternatives.
Use simple and rapid construction procedures.
Do not require experienced craftsmen.
More economical for walls higher than 3.00 m.
High flexibility and capability to absorb deformations.
Higher resistance to seismic loading.
3. Disadvantages of Reinforced Earth Walls
Require a relatively large space behind the wall.
Require select granular fill. (At sites where is a lack of
granular soils, the cost of importing suitable fill
material may render the system uneconomical).
Suitable design criteria are required to address
corrosion of steel reinforcing elements, deterioration
of certain types of exposed facing elements.
4. Potential modes of failure
Potential Modes of Failure
External Mode of Internal Mode of Facing Mode of
Failure Failure Failure
Pullout of the
Overturning Facing connection
reinforcement
Base sliding Tensile overstress Bulging
Bearing capacity Internal sliding Facing overturning
Global stability
Base sliding failure Bearing capacity failure
Global stability failure Pull out of reinforcement failure
5. General design requirements_using metalic strips
External stability
Internal stability requirements
requirements
Vl spacing between reinforcing Given or
Safety against overturning
elements assumed
Hz spacing between Given or
Safety against base sliding
reinforcing elements assumed
Thickness of reinforcing One of them Safety against bearing
element is Given or capacity
Width of reinforcing element assumed
Length of reinforcing element Calculated
6. Solved examples
1. Perform an internal design of a Reinforced earth wall to retain
30ft high above ground level.
The backfill is a cohesionless soil with unit weight of 105 Ib/ft3 and
angle of internal friction of 36o. The original soil cohesive soil with
unit weight of 110 Ib/ft3 and cohesion of 10000 Ib/ft2.
Use galvanized metalic strips of width (w) = 3 inch, vertical spacing
of (Svl) = 2 ft, horizontal spacing of (Shz) = 3 ft and corrosion rate
of 0.001 inch/ year. Given that; Yield strength of steel (Fy) = 35000
Ib/inch2, angle of friction between backfill soil and metalic strips
(Φm) = 20o.
The expected life = 20 years. Consider factor of safety = 3.00.
