Behavior of full-scale mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) walls under strip footing load

This study analyses two full scale model tests with mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) walls. The reinforcement loads and strains as a consequence of horizontal and vertical earth pressure are measured and compared with calculation models. One test was conducted with a rigid and one with flexible wall. Other parameters were not changed like the number of geogrid layers, the vertical distance between layers and reinforcement and soil type. Instruments used in the full scale model tests were: horizontal and vertical cell pressures inside the soil, strain gauges on reinforcement layers, load cell over the strip footing load and LVDTs in front of the wall. The results indicate that tensile force on reinforcement layers and vertical and horizontal earth pressures near the face for rigid facing is less than the flexible facing. Also the location of the maximum tensile forces is different for two walls with different facing under strip footing load. Results are also compared with AASHTO and the empirical K-stiffness method. The AASHTO method overestimated and the K-stiffness method underestimated the measured maximum tensile forces