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Soil-geosynthetic reinforcement interaction for mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) wall systems

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Date Issued:
2001
Summary:
The dissertation is an experimental and analytical investigation of the long term performance of mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) walls with geosynthetics, with particular focus on rational methods to enable the determination of the applicable factors for use in Load Resistance Factor Design (LRFD). An overview of current issues concerning MSE walls is followed by an extensive literature review addressing MSE walls, pullout strength, creep and creep rupture, durability and degradation, design methodology, analytical prediction, and field evaluation of MSE walls. The experimental tasks comprise: (i) creep and creep rupture, (ii) durability and degradation, (iii) small scale testing of MSE walls with a model prototype ratio of 1:5.5, and (iv) construction of prototype MSE wall and instrumentation for long-term performance. The analytical work comprises finite difference modeling using the Fast Lagrangian Analysis of Continua (FLAC) software, (i) For creep up to 10,000 hours accelerated exposure for HDPE and PET geogrids, with super-ambient temperatures and soil water conditions related to soil conditions in Florida, the significant part of creep was due to temperatures and not solution exposures, with creep rupture occurring primarily for HDPE. (ii) For durability, performance at ambient temperatures was extrapolated, based on the Arrhenius method. The variation in degradation between the different solutions was minimal, indicating hydrolysis as the main cause for PET at elevated temperatures. (iii) Two HDPE and two PET reinforcement small scale (1:5.5) MSE walls were tested, with different surcharges each for 72 hour periods. Panel movements, strains in the reinforcement, and wall settlements were measured, indicating values smaller than the predicted, mostly for the smaller surcharges due to distortion caused by scaling neglecting the gravity effect. (iv) For analysis with FLAC computer software, two correction factors "a" and "b" were applied to correct the discrepancies between the model and the test values. The PET MSE small scale wall showed more deviation because the material has a low modulus of elasticity. (v) A preliminary comparison of the small scale and the prototype MSE wall behavior indicated discrepancies due to distortion scaling related to the lack of gravity simulation.
Title: Soil-geosynthetic reinforcement interaction for mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) wall systems.
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Name(s): Navarrete, Fernando Manuel.
Florida Atlantic University, Degree grantor
Reddy, Dronnadula V., Thesis advisor
College of Engineering and Computer Science
Department of Ocean and Mechanical Engineering
Type of Resource: text
Genre: Electronic Thesis Or Dissertation
Issuance: monographic
Date Issued: 2001
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Place of Publication: Boca Raton, Fla.
Physical Form: application/pdf
Extent: 318 p.
Language(s): English
Summary: The dissertation is an experimental and analytical investigation of the long term performance of mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) walls with geosynthetics, with particular focus on rational methods to enable the determination of the applicable factors for use in Load Resistance Factor Design (LRFD). An overview of current issues concerning MSE walls is followed by an extensive literature review addressing MSE walls, pullout strength, creep and creep rupture, durability and degradation, design methodology, analytical prediction, and field evaluation of MSE walls. The experimental tasks comprise: (i) creep and creep rupture, (ii) durability and degradation, (iii) small scale testing of MSE walls with a model prototype ratio of 1:5.5, and (iv) construction of prototype MSE wall and instrumentation for long-term performance. The analytical work comprises finite difference modeling using the Fast Lagrangian Analysis of Continua (FLAC) software, (i) For creep up to 10,000 hours accelerated exposure for HDPE and PET geogrids, with super-ambient temperatures and soil water conditions related to soil conditions in Florida, the significant part of creep was due to temperatures and not solution exposures, with creep rupture occurring primarily for HDPE. (ii) For durability, performance at ambient temperatures was extrapolated, based on the Arrhenius method. The variation in degradation between the different solutions was minimal, indicating hydrolysis as the main cause for PET at elevated temperatures. (iii) Two HDPE and two PET reinforcement small scale (1:5.5) MSE walls were tested, with different surcharges each for 72 hour periods. Panel movements, strains in the reinforcement, and wall settlements were measured, indicating values smaller than the predicted, mostly for the smaller surcharges due to distortion caused by scaling neglecting the gravity effect. (iv) For analysis with FLAC computer software, two correction factors "a" and "b" were applied to correct the discrepancies between the model and the test values. The PET MSE small scale wall showed more deviation because the material has a low modulus of elasticity. (v) A preliminary comparison of the small scale and the prototype MSE wall behavior indicated discrepancies due to distortion scaling related to the lack of gravity simulation.
Identifier: 9780493407722 (isbn), 11968 (digitool), FADT11968 (IID), fau:8885 (fedora)
Collection: FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection
Note(s): College of Engineering and Computer Science
Thesis (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2001.
Subject(s): Geosynthetics
Load factor design
Retaining walls
Soil stabilization
Held by: Florida Atlantic University Libraries
Persistent Link to This Record: http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/11968
Sublocation: Digital Library
Use and Reproduction: Copyright © is held by the author, with permission granted to Florida Atlantic University to digitize, archive and distribute this item for non-profit research and educational purposes. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions requires permission of the copyright holder.
Use and Reproduction: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
Host Institution: FAU
Is Part of Series: Florida Atlantic University Digital Library Collections.