• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.555-570
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• 2023

In the current study, a series of experimental and analytical evaluations were performed to introduce the horizontal pseudo static coefficient (kh) as a function of the wall configuration and the reinforcement type for analyzing reinforced soil walls. For this purpose, eight shaking table tests were performed on reduced-scale models of integrated and two-tiered walls reinforced by metal strip and geogrid to determine the distribution of dynamic lateral pressure in the walls. Then, the physical models were analyzed using Mononobe-Okabe method to estimate the value of kh required to establish the dynamic lateral pressures similar to those observed in shaking table tests. Based on the results, the horizontal pseudo static coefficient and the position of resultant lateral force (R) were introduced as a function of the horizontal peak ground acceleration (HPGA), the wall configuration, the reinforcement type as well as maximum wall displacement.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2001.06a
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• pp.1-11
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• 2001

This Paper presents the result of a parametric study on the behavior of stiffened grid reinforced segmental wall resting on non-yielding foundation. The parametric study was conducted using the nonlinear finite element analysis. In the finite element analysis, the step by step construction of the wall such as backfill, block reinforcement, block/backfill and soil/reinforcement interfaces were carefully modeled. The mechanical behavior of stiffened grid reinforced segmental walls was then investigated based on the result of analysis with emphasis on the effect of reinforcement stiffness on the behavior of the wall. The results of analysis indicate that the horizontal wall displacement decrease; with increasing the reinforcement stiffness at a decreasing rate, and that the horizontal stress at the back of the reinforced soil block does not much vary with the reinforcement stiffness. It is also revealed that the calculated maximum vertical stress at the base of the reinforced soil block agrees well with that based on the Meyerhof distribution and that the reinforcement and the connection force are considerably smaller than what might be expected based on the current design assumptions. The implications of the findings from this study to current design approaches were discussed in detail.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.17 no.12
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• pp.27-34
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• 2016

Many steepened slopes have become increasingly advantageous because of the desire to increase land usage and decrease site development costs. The proven concept of tensile reinforcement allows construction of slopes with far steeper face angles than the soils natural angle. Steepened slope face reinforced with improved soil can increase land usage substantially while providing a natural appearance. The paper presents composite reinforced earth with improved soil surface and geogrid-reinforced backfill. For the stability of the steepened slope, the behavior of the composite reinforced earth are validated and verified by case study and numerical analysis. The case study has performed to investigate the deformation of reinforce soil slope for 14 months. Its horizontal behavior by general vertical load shows within the safe range (0.5% of structure height). As a result of numerical analysis and case study, the reinforcement effect of the steepened slope technique using improved soil is sufficient to be constructed as reinforced soil slope.

• Journal of the Korean Geosynthetics Society
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.17-25
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• 2010

Evaluation of stability in traditional designing of reinforced soil structures is executed by examination of internal and external stability. Analysis of internal stability is for pull-out and ductile strength. Analysis of external stability is for settlement, overturning and sliding. To minimize inherent uncertainties of soil properties and analytical model, reliability analysis was developed recently. In this study, reliability analysis method considering simultaneous failure probability for various failure mode of internal and external stability is proposed. By applying uni-modal bounds, Stability of system reliability of reinforced soil structures is evaluated by integrating multi failure mode for various analytical model. Because of complex consideration for various failure shapes and modes, it is possible to secure advanced safety by using simultaneous failure probability. And evaluation of reinforced soil structure is executed by representative index, simultaneous failure probability, than previous method.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2006.03a
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• pp.96-102
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• 2006

Because of the increasing need to use clayey soil as the backfill in reinforced soil structures and embankment material, nonwoven geotextiles with the drain capability have been receiving much attention. However, there are few studies of the deformation behavior of nonwoven geotextiles at geosynthetics reinforced soil structures in the field because the nonwoven geotextile, which has low tensile stiffness and higher deformability than geogrids and woven geotextiles, is difficult to measure its deformation by strain gauges and to prevent the water from infiltrating. This study proposes a new, more convenient method to measure the deformation behaviour of nonwoven geotextile by using a strain gauge; and examines the availability of the method by conducting laboratory tests and by applying it on two geosynthetics reinforced soil (GRS) walls in the field. A wide-width tensile test conducted under confining pressure of 7kPa showed that the local deformation of nonwoven geotextile measured with strain gauges has a similar pattern to the total deformation measured with LVDT. In the field GRS walls, nonwoven geotextile showed a larger deformation range than the woven geotextile and geogrid; however, the deformation patterns of these three reinforcement materials were similar. The function of strain gauges attached to nonwoven geotextile in the walls works normally for 16 months. Therefore, the method proposed in this study for measuring nonwoven geotextile deformation by using a strain gauge proved useful.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.345-354
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• 2018

Currently, layered geogrid method (LGM) is the commonly practiced technique for reinforcement of slopes. In this paper the geogrid-box method (GBM) is introduced as a new approach for reinforcement of rock-soil slopes. To achieve the objectives of this study, a laboratory setup was designed and the slopes without reinforcements and reinforced with LGM and GBM were tested under the loading of a circular footing. The effect of vertical spacing between geogrid layers and box thickness on normalized bearing capacity and failure mechanism of slopes was investigated. A series of 3D finite element analysis were also performed using ABAQUS software to supplement the results of the model tests. The results indicated that the load-settlement behavior and the ultimate bearing capacity of footing can be significantly improved by the inclusion of reinforcing geogrid in the soil. It was found that for the slopes reinforced with GBM, the displacement contours are widely distributed in the rock-soil mass underneath the footing in greater width and depth than that in the reinforced slope with LGM, which in turn results in higher bearing capacity. It was also established that by reducing the thickness of geogrid-boxes, the distribution and depth of displacement contours increases and a longer failure surface is developed, which suggests the enhanced bearing capacity of the slope. Based on the studied designs, the ultimate bearing capacity of the GBM-reinforced slope was found to be 11.16% higher than that of the slope reinforced with LGM. The results also indicated that, reinforcement of rock-soil slopes using GBM causes an improvement in the ultimate bearing capacity as high as 24.8 times more than that of the unreinforced slope.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 1999.11c
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• pp.129-141
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• 1999

This paper presents the results of plate load test and dynamic load test performed to evaluate the performance of geocell where it is used to reinforce soft subgrade for high-speed railroad. Efficacy of geocell was observed in increase in bearing capacity of subgrade and reduction of thickness of reinforced sub-ballast. Plate load tests were carried out at four different places with varying foundation soil strength as a function of number of geocell layer, type of filler material, thickness of cover soil, and the presence of non-woven geotextile. Dynamic load tests were performed in a laboratory. The test soil chamber consists of, from the bottom, 50 cm thick clayey soil, one layer of geocell filled with crushed stone, 10 cm thick crushed stone cover, reinforced sub-ballast of varying thickness, 35 cm thick ballast. This configuration was determined based on the results of numerical analysis and plate load tests. For each set of the dynamic load tests, loads were applied more than 80,000 times. One layer of geocell underlying a 10 cm thick cover soil led to an increase in bearing capacity three to four times compared to a crushed stone layer of the same thickness substituted for the geocell and cover soil layer. Given the test conditions, the thickness of reinforced sub-ballast can be reduced by approximately 35 cm with the presence of geocell.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.21 no.10
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• pp.85-97
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• 2005

Despite a number of advantages of reinforced earth walls over conventional concrete retaining walls, there exist concerns over long-term residual deformation when subjected to repeated and/or cyclic loads, especially when used as part of permanent structures. In view of these concerns, in this paper time-dependent deformation characteristics of geosynthetic reinforced soil under sustained and/or repeated loads were investigated using a series of plane strain compression tests on geogrid reinforced weathered granite soil specimens. The results indicate that sustained or repeated loads can yield appreciable magnitudes of residual deformations, and that the residual deformations are influenced not only by the loading characteristics but by the mechanical properties of geogrid. It is also found that the preloading technique can be effectively used in controlling residual deformations of reinforced soils subjected to sustained and/or repeated loads.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 1999.11c
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• pp.69-83
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• 1999

Soil-reinforced segmental retaining walls(SRW) have been proven to be high earthquake-resistant structure during recent earthquakes in United States and Japan. The mechanicals behavior of the SRWs under seismic loading, however, has not been fully understood. Although the seismic design issues for the civil engineering structures have gained much attention in Korea due to the increase in frequency of earthquake occurrence, the seismic design for the SRWs has not been being implemented. This study has been undertaken with the aim of developing a more rational seismic design/analysis method for soil-reinforced segmental retaining walls. This paper present fundamentals of current seismic design/analysis method and the results of a comparative study between NCMA and FHWA design guidelines, Practical implications of the findings from this study are discussed in great detail.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers Conference
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• 1998.10a
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• pp.461-466
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• 1998

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the properties of unconfined compressive strength(UCS) of dry soil which was reinforced with short polypropylene fiber(SPPF). And the results were summarized as follows: 1. As water content was increased, unconfined compressive strength and strain of dry soil with no fiber added were decreased 2. As mixing ratio of fiber was increased, unconfined compressive strength and strain at failure of dry soil reinforced with SPPF were increased. 3. When mixing ratio was larger than 0.5％, unconfined compressive strength was gradually increased. 4. The longer fiber was, the larger post peak strength was obtained and the larger strain was reached.