Title: Earthquake Performance of Full-Scale Reinforced Soil Walls (NEES-2010-0936)

Year Of Curation: 2014

Description: The dynamic response and performance of earth retaining structures has traditionally been measured by testing small physical models, which have yielded valuable information but represent a compromise with respect to field structures. What is needed for a better understanding of the earthquake performance of soil retaining walls is full-scale testing. The objective of the project is to perform a unique experimental investigation of the earthquake performance of full-scale (10 m) reinforced soil retaining walls constructed using realistic materials and methods. Considering that these walls will be several times taller than for any previous research, a key focus of the proposed work will be the influence of wall height on overall system response and distribution of dynamic forces in soil reinforcement. Other focus areas will be dynamic earth pressure on the back of the wall, effects of dynamic loading on load transfer mechanisms between soil and reinforcing elements, and permanent wall deformations after dynamic loading.

Award: http://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1041656

PIs & CoPIs: Patrick Fox, Ahmed Elgamal

Dates: October 01, 2010 - April 11, 2013

Organizations: University of California, San Diego, CA, United States

Facilities: University of California, San Diego, CA, United States

Sponsor: NSF - n/a - 1041656

Keywords: soil confinement box,Seismic performance,dynamic loading,mechanically stabilized earth,MSE Walls,rocking bridge foundation

Publications: 
Patrick J. Fox, Paul Greco, Matthew Stone, Simon Wong, "Large Soil Confinement Box for Seismic Performance Testing of Geo-Structures"

• Patrick Fox, Ahmed Elgamal (2017), "Earthquake Performance of Full-Scale Reinforced Soil Walls (NEES-2010-0936)," https://datacenterhub.org/deedsdv/publications/view/347.