PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS OF MBW UNIT-GEOSYNTHETIC CONNECTION STRENGTH REQUIREMENTS

摘要

Several design approaches are available for quantifying the allowable design connection strength between MBW units and geosynthetic soil reinforcements of MSEW structures. The practical implications of various ultimate strength criteria are investigated and reported within. The economic viability of over 200 combinations of MBW units and geosynthetic reinforcements are evaluated with the various criteria. It is concluded that application of the current AASHTO rupture failure criterion significantly limits the number of economically useable MBW-reinforcement combinations with only approximately 6% of the combinations reviewed deemed economical for construction. The economic limitations should be an impetus for development of: (ⅰ) revised criteria for consideration and implementation by AASHTO; or (ⅱ) new connection systems to meet the existing criterion.