1 Evaluation of I-wall in New Orleans with calibrated soil parameters

This study utilized the field monitoring results from a full scale loading test in London Ave. Canal in New Orleans, LA to calibrate/back-calculate soil moduli. Calibrated soil moduli were used to accurately predict the behavior of the I-wall in London Ave. Canal, so that effective retrofitting techniques can be designed. From this study, it turned out that the moduli of the field soils are mostly higher (1 to 12 times) than predicted magnitudes from laboratory tests or empirical relations; the gap formation can increase the stability of the levee in some cases by relieving the stresses: that is contradicting to the general belief, but conforms to the measured data; and quantitatively confirmed that the strength reduction in the marsh layer is one of major failure mechanisms