Comparison of Working Stress and Limit Equilibrium Behavior of Reinforced Soil Walls

ABSTRACT The paper is focused on issues related to the behavior of reinforced soil walls at working stress and near failure, and the prediction accuracy of internal stability working stress and limit equilibrium (LE) design methods. The paper identifies the key variables, principles and assumptions that affect the accuracy of these methods considering the full range of conditions from working stress to failure. The strain at peak strength of a granular soil wall backfill is identified as a key parameter for understanding the differences between working stress and LE design methods. Both geosynthetic and steel reinforced wall systems are examined using measured reinforcement strain and loads taken from full-scale walls under both working stress (operational) conditions and at incipient collapse (failure). 1