The use
of geotextiles as a reinforcement material for improving the factor of safety
against slope failure in embankments built on soft clay is becoming a common
practice. This work is intended to help understand the effect of the geotextile
reinforcement has on such embankments and to provide a design aid for civil
engineers that enables them to quickly estimate the factor of safety against
slope failure. Seventy four different cases were modelled and analyzed using a
finite element software, GeoStudio 2018 R2. The results showed that the optimum
improvement was achieved when using a single layer of geotextile reinforcement
placed at the base of the embankment, by which the factor of safety increased
by up to 40%. Adding a second layer, a third layer and a fourth layer,
increases the safety factor by 2.5%, 1% and 0.5% respectively. Different charts
for different heights of embankments were presented to aid in finding the most
suitable slope angle and number of reinforcement layers required to achieve a
certain safety factor.
References
[1]
Das, B.M. (2010) Geotechnical Engineering Handbook. J. Ross Publishing, 15.
[2]
Kazimierowicz-Frankowska, K. (2005) A Case Study of a Geosynthetic Reinforced Wall with Wrap-Around Facing. Geotextiles and Geomembranes, 23, 107-115. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geotexmem.2004.05.001
[3]
Rowe, K. and Taechakumthorn, C. (2008) Combined Effect of PVDs and Reinforcement on Embankments over Rate Sensitive Soils. Geotextiles and Geomembranes, 26, 239-249. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geotexmem.2007.10.001
[4]
Sawicki, A. and Lesniewska, D. (1991) Stability of Fabric Reinforced Cohesive Soil Slopes. Geotextile and Geomembranes, 10, 125-146. https://doi.org/10.1016/0266-1144(91)90025-R
[5]
Varsuo, R.J., Grieshaber, J.B. and Nataraj, M.S. (2005) Geosynthetic Reinforced Levee Test Section on Soft Normally Consolidated Clays. Geotextiles and Geomembranes, 23, 362-384. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geotexmem.2004.11.001
[6]
Siavoshnia, M., Kalantari, F. and Shakiba, A. (2010) Assessment of Geotextile Reinforced Embankments on Soft Clay Soil. The 1st International Applied Geological Congress, Islamic Azad University-Mashhad Branch, Iran, 26-28 April 2010.
[7]
Bergado, D.T., Long, P.V. and Murthy, B.R.S. (2020) A Case Study of Geotextile Reinforced Embankment on Soft Ground. Geotextiles and Geomembranes, 20, 343-365. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0266-1144(02)00032-8
[8]
Nwaogazie, I.L. (2008) Finite Element Modeling of Engineering Systems, (with Emphasis in Water Resources). 2nd Edition, University of Port Harcourt Press, Port Harcourt, 452.
[9]
Bergado, D.T. and Teerawattanasuk, C. (2008) 2D and 3D Numerical Simulations of Reinforced Embankments on Soft Ground. Geotextiles and Geomembranes, 26, 39-55. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geotexmem.2007.03.003
[10]
Al Hattamleh, O. and Muhunthan, B. (2006) Numerical Procedures for Deformation Calculations in the Reinforced Soil Walls. Geotextiles and Geomembranes, 24, 52-57. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geotexmem.2005.07.001
[11]
Morgenstern, N.R.A.V.E.P. (1965) The Analysis of the Stability of General Slip Surface. Geotechnique, 15, 289-290. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.1965.15.1.79
[12]
Das, B.M. and Sobhan, K. (2012) Principles of Geotechnical Engineering. 8th Edition, 766.
[13]
Schmertmann, G.R., Chouery-Curtis, V.E., Johnson, R.D. and Bonaparte, R. (1987) Design Charts for Geogrid-Reinforced Soil Slopes. Proceedings of Geosynthetics ’87 Conference, New Orleans, 108-120.
