This document discusses reinforced earth retaining walls and slopes. It notes that reinforced earth walls are important for highway construction as they reduce required right-of-way and allow construction within limited existing spaces. Reinforced embankments can also provide a cost-effective foundation for earthen embankments over soft soils. The document then describes the load transfer mechanism of reinforced earth walls, involving friction between flexible reinforcement and soil to resist shear stresses and generate tensile forces in the reinforcement. It notes pullout and tensile failure must be considered for stability. Construction procedures are also outlined.

1. REINFORCED EARTH RETAINING
WALLS & SLOPES
SOUMYA S GROUND IMPROVEMENT TECHNIQUES

2. • Important in highway construction as their use reduces the
required width of new right-of-way and facilitates construction
within existing limited right-of-way.

3. Reinforced embankments over soft foundations
• A cost-effective alternative to traditional techniques for
constructing earthen embankments over low strength
foundations

4. Reinforced Earth Retaining Wall

6. Reinforced Earth Retaining Wall

7. Load Transfer Mechanism
 The flexible reinforcement interacts frictionally with the
soil resisting the shear stresses in the soil mass
 The shear stress at the interface of the soil and the
reinforcement generates strains in the reinforcement
and a tensile force is mobilised in the reinforcement
 If this tensile force exceeds the tensile capacity of the
reinforcement, rupture failure occurs – Tensile failure
 If deformations are high or if the interface is smooth, it
is likely that a slip occurs between the soil and
reinforcement – Pullout Failure
 For stability, Tensile failure and Pullout failure to be
examined

8. Principles
• If a vertical stress sv is applied on a soil element, it undergoes
a vertical compression (dv) associated with a lateral
deformation (dh).
• If a reinforcement is added to the soil in the form of horizontal
layers, the soil element will be restrained against lateral
deformation as it acted by a lateral force.
sv
dh = 0 with
reinforcement
Reinforcement
sv
dv
dh

9. • The lateral force required for zero lateral deflection is equal to
the lateral earth pressure at rest, ie K0. δv
• The lateral force required to keep the element in limiting
equilibrium is equal to Ka. δv.
ie (δh)min = Ka. δv

13. CONSTRUCTION PROCEDURE

15. 15

16. 16

17. 17

18. 18

19. 19

20. 20

21. 21

22. 22

23. 23

25. 25

26. Facing Panels
• Panel Thickness -140, 160 and 180mm
• When maximum wall height is 8m, use 140mm thick panel.
Otherwise use 160mm thick panel.
26

27. THANK YOU!!