An Assessment of the Factors that Contribute to the Poor Performance of Geosynthetic-Reinforced Earth Retaining Walls

摘要

Forty-five geosynthetic-reinforced soil structures that performed poorly have been investigated. Not all of the walls completely failed. However, the performance of each was sufficiently degraded to the point that it no longer satisfied the requirements of the Owner. In most cases the poor performance was not the result of a single cause. Rather, the performance was usually a consequence of a combination of adverse factors. These adverse factors have been evaluated and are assigned to one of ten categories. Examples of the factors are provided in the descriptions of selected projects. The frequency with which each factor occurred is also evaluated. The results of this assessment have significant implications for the standards of both wall design and construction.