Roles of Facing Connection Strength, Truncated Base, and Embedment inMechanically Stabilized Backfill Walls

摘要

The roles of connection strength between facing elements and geosyntheticreinforcements; embedment; and truncated bases in Mechanically Stabilized Backfill (MSB) walls are reported. Two 15 foot high MSB walls were constructed, one with concrete modular block facing elements and the other with blocks made of compressed rubber tire chips. Neither was embedded and both had truncated reinforcements at the bottom. Each was surcharged. In each, the geosynthetic reinforcements were severed at the facing element interface following construction and surcharging. It is concluded that: (1) Facing elements experience highest horizontal thrust during construction (compaction), where they act as forms to facilitate achieving a vertical face. Permanent loads are quite small; (2) Embedment does not improve internal stability; and (3) MSB features with truncated bases are internally stable.