Load and resistance factor design (LRFD) (often called limit states design (LSD)) has been mandated in the AASHTO Bridge Design Specifications and will be adopted in future editions of Canadian Highway Bridge Design Code for all transportation-related structures including reinforced soil retaining walls. The ultimate objective of this thesis work was to carry out reliability-based analysis for load and resistance factor design calibration for rupture and pullout limit states for steel and geosynthetic reinforced soil walls under self-weight and permanent surcharge loading conditions. In order to meet this objective it was necessary to generate large databases of measured load and resistance data from many sources and in some cases to propose new design models that improve the accuracy of underlying deterministic load and resistance models. Numerical models were also developed to model reinforced soil wall performance. These models were used to investigate load prediction accuracy of current analytical reinforcement load models. An important feature of the calibration method adopted in this study is the use of bias statistics to account for prediction accuracy of the underlying deterministic models for load and resistance calculations, random variability in input parameter values, spatial variation and quality of data. In this thesis, bias is defined as the ratio of measured to predicted value. The most important end product of the work described in this thesis is tabulated resistance factors for rupture and pullout limit states for the internal stability of steel and geosynthetic reinforced soil walls. These factors are developed for geosynthetic reinforced soil wall design using the current AASHTO Simplified Method, a new modified Simplified Method, and the recently proposed K-Stiffness Method. Useful quantitative comparisons are made between these three methods by introducing the concept of computed operational factors of safety. This allows designers to quantify the actual margin of safety using different design approaches. The thesis format is paper-based. Ten of the chapters are comprised of journal papers that have been published (2), are in press (2), in review (3) and the remaining (3) to be submitted once the earlier background papers are accepted. / Thesis (Ph.D, Civil Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2010-01-28 18:07:22.284

Thesis (M. Eng.)--Carleton University, 1993. / Also available in electronic format on the Internet.

Les travaux de recherche présentés dans ce manuscrit ont été menés dans le cadre d’une convention CIFRE avec le Groupe Dacquin. Le sous-sol rennais est composé, en majorité, de schistes datés du Briovérien. Ces terrains, qui peuvent être rencontrés sur une grande partie du massif armoricain, présentent des degrés d’altération et de fracturation extrêmement variables à l’échelle du bassin rennais. Cette variabilité est très difficile à prendre en compte dans le cadre de la réalisation de soutènement, tant au niveau de la conception qu’au niveau de l’exécution. Dans un premier temps, des modélisations basés sur la méthode des éléments finis (logiciel PLAXIS 2D ©) ont été entreprises afin d’évaluer l’influence de la prise en compte d’une anisotropie du terrain sur le comportement de la paroi, en termes de moments et de déplacements. Le modèle utilisé permettait de prendre en compte une anisotropie élastique combinée à un critère orienté de plasticité de type Mohr-Coulomb. Les résultats obtenus avec ce modèle, pour différentes orientations du critère de plasticité, ont été comparés à ceux obtenus avec un modèle élastique isotrope et critère de plasticité de type Mohr-Coulomb. La même étude a été menée avec un second logiciel éléments finis (CESAR-LCPC) afin de comparer les résultats obtenus. Dans les deux cas une influence importante de l’orientation du critère de plasticité a été observée pouvant conduire à des résultats plus défavorables, selon l’orientation, que ceux obtenus avec le modèle isotrope. Ces résultats ont confirmé la nécessité de mieux caractériser l’anisotropie dans des matériaux tels que les schistes Briovériens. La caractérisation du matériau a donc été menée dans un second temps sur des prélèvements répartis sur la ville de Rennes et ses alentours (lors de travaux d’excavations ou sur des talus). Elle a permis de balayer les caractéristiques des schistes de l’échelle microscopique jusqu’à l’échelle macroscopique. La caractérisation microscopique, basée sur des observations au microscope à balayage électronique, des essais de diffraction des rayons X et des observations de lames minces, a permis de mettre en évidence des variations dans la pétrographie des échantillons (schistosité, granulométrie, teneur en argiles) permettant de les différencier en deux types : grès et siltites. La caractérisation à l’échelle macroscopique a été divisée en trois axes : la caractérisation de la matrice rocheuse et de son anisotropie (essais de compression uniaxiale, mesures de vitesses de propagation d’ondes et essais au scléromètre), la caractérisation de discontinuités exprimées (cisaillement direct) et la caractérisation de la résistance à l’usure (essais de broyabilité et Micro-Deval modifiés). Les siltites se sont révélées être extrêmement sensibles à l’eau (forte diminution des caractéristiques mécaniques mesurées) tandis que les échantillons gréseux l’étaient dans une moindre mesure. L’ensemble des essais réalisés a permis d’établir des ordres de grandeurs de variations des propriétés mécaniques des schistes du Briovérien. Enfin la classification des schistes briovériens élaborés par des géotechniciens pour la seconde ligne de métro de Rennes a été complétée en vue de mieux définir les classes intermédiaires de résistance. / Research work presented in this phD thesis was financed by a CIFRE grant given to Groupe Dacquin. Ground from the city of Rennes is, for the majority of it, composed of schists from the Brioverian era. These schists which can be encountered in the entire Armorican massif, present a weathering and a fracturing degree highly variable. This variability is hardly considered for the construction of retaining structure whether during the design step or the execution step. First, modellings using the finite elements method (PLAXIS 2D ©) have been carried out in order to evaluate the influence of ground anisotropy on the retaining wall behaviour (horizontal displacements and bending moments). The model used combined elastic anisotropy with an oriented plasticity criterion (type Mohr-Coulomb). Results obtained with this model, for different orientations of the plasticity criterion, were compared with the ones from the elastic isotropic model (with a Mohr-Coulomb plastic criterion). The same study was carried out with another finite elements software (CESAR-LCPC) in order to compare the results between the two sofwares. In both cases, an important influence of the orientation of the plasticity criterion was noted and lead to higher efforts in the wall, for certain orientations, compared to the isotropic model. These results confirmed the need of a better characterization of the anisotropy in materials such as Brioverian schists. In a second time, the characterization of the material was carried out on samplings spread over the city of Rennes and its area (during excavation work or on natural banks). Characterization was conducted from the microscopic to the macroscopic scale. Microscopic characterization based on observations with a scanning electron microscope, XRD analyses and thin section observations showed variations in the petrography of the samples (schistosity, granulometry, clay content) that lead to the differentiation of two types: sandstone and siltstone. The characterization at the macroscopic scale was divided into three parts: characterization of the rock matrix and its anisotropy (uniaxial compression tests, ultrasonic wave velocities and Schmidt hammer test), characterization of opened discontinuities (direct shear test) and the characterization of wear resistance (grindability and Micro-Deval tests). Siltstone samples were extremely sensitive to the water content (important decrease of the mechanical characteristics measured) whereas sandstones were less sensitive. The tests carried out lead to the definition of ranges for the mechanical properties of the Brioverian schists. Classification of Brioverian schists established by geotechnical engineers for the second subway line of Rennes was completed in order to better define the transitional states of strength of the material.

I detta examensarbete undersöks hur stödmurar av olika slag kan utföras på ett underhållsvänligare sätt. Med det menas att kostnaden för drift och underhåll ska hållas på en rimlig nivå med "normalt underhåll". Arbetet har genomförts på uppdrag av Nacka Kommun. Stödmurar har till uppgift att ta hand om jordtryck och även eventuella trafiklaster från vägar eller parkeringar. Detta ställer krav på att stödmuren är dimensionerad för de laster, och även för de olika typer av angrepp som kan förekomma med hänsyn till miljö. Stödmurar som är i stort behov av underhåll är idag ett problem för Nacka kommun som beställare. I dagens läge får kommunen sina stödmurar levererade av i princip samma typ och företag, vilket gör att kostnaderna för drift och underhåll också ligger på samma nivå. För att undersöka vilka typer av stödmurar som finns på marknaden, har en kategorisering gjorts av de vanligast förekommande stödmurarna, deras fördelar och nackdelar, samt användningsområden för de olika typerna. En LCC beräkning har gjorts för att lättare kunna se skillnaden mellan de olika stödmurarna med avseende på initialkostnader för produkten samt drift och underhållskostnader under dess livslängd. Betong som är det klart dominerande materialet som stödmurarna byggs av idag, har förklarats lite mer ingående med hänsyn till vilka skador som kan förekomma och även hur dessa kan undvikas. Ett av resultaten som är framtaget genom livscykelkostnadsberäkning visar, att gabioner som stödkonstruktion har minsta totalkostnad under dess livslängd. En av slutsatsen som arbetet har mynnat i är att med ett högre krav under projekteringsskedet kan skador som är ofta förekommande undvikas, eller hållas på en acceptabel nivå under stödmurens livslängd. Skadorna kan vara sprickbildning, avspjälkning eller korrosion av armering. / In this thesis an literature study have been done to examines how the retaining walls of various kinds can be performed in a maintenance friendly way. This means that the cost of operation and maintenance must be kept at a reasonable level with "normal maintenance". The work has been carried out on behalf of and supervised by Nacka Municipality. Retaining walls have the task of caring for earth pressure and also possible traffic loads from roads or parking areas. This demands that the retaining wall is dimensioned for the loads, and also for the different types of attacks that can occur with regard to the environment. Retaining walls that are in great need of maintenance is now a problem for Nacka municipality. At present, the municipality is getting all its retaining walls supplied by basically the same type and company. This means that the costs of operation and maintenance are also located on the same level. To examine the types of support walls that are available in the market today a categorization have been made of the most common retaining walls, their advantages, disadvantages and uses of the different types. An LCC calculation has been done to help identify the difference between the different support walls with respect to the initial cost of the product, and operation and maintenance costs over its lifetime. Concrete which is the dominant material that retaining walls are built of today have been explained more thoroughly with regard to the damage that may occur and also how they can be avoided. One of the results of the work is that with higher requirements during the design stage can damages that are frequently be avoided, or kept at an acceptable level during retaining walls durability. Effects may be cracking, spalling and corrosion of reinforcement.

Thesis (M.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Civil Engineering, 1979. / MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND ENGINEERING. / Includes bibliographical references. / by Kamran Zarrabi-Kashani. / M.S.

The potential of digitally fabricated concrete (DFC) to produce terrain responsive designs has not been thoroughly investigated. Existing research indicates diverse benefits of DFC, such as the rapid fabrication of customized geometries. This research clarifies the advantages and design processes involved in creating site-specific DFC structures. Existing literature is analyzed to provide an overview of fabrication methods and their impacts and constraints on design. Parametric scripting is used to develop an interactive toolkit that integrates aesthetic, structural, and fabrication considerations into the design process. This toolkit specifically focuses on unreinforced retaining walls with interchangeable modules for terrain analysis, wall form generation, structural analysis, and fabrication analysis. The toolkit provides valuable feedback, such as identifying optimum wall proportions, and enables rapid design explorations. The findings affirm the value of exploratory design tools in managing fabrication complexities. Additionally, by recreating an existing amphitheater, the research indicates that DFC can create site-specific geometries that draw from the surrounding terrain.

No description available.

Use of soil retaining walls for roads, embankments and bridges is increasing with time and reinforced soil retaining walls are found to be very efficient even under critical conditions compared to unreinforced walls. They offer competitive solutions to earth retaining problems associated with less space and more loads posed by tremendous growth in infrastructure, in addition to the advantages in ease and cost of construction compared to conventional retaining wall systems. The study of seismic performance of reinforced soil retaining walls is receiving much attention in the light of lessons learned from past failures of conventional retaining walls. Laboratory model studies on these walls under controlled seismic loading conditions help to understand better how these walls actually behave during earthquakes. The objective of the present study is to investigate the seismic response of geosynthetic reinforced soil wall models through shaking table tests. To achieve this, wrap faced and rigid faced reinforced soil retaining walls of size 750 × 500 mm in plan and 600 mm height are built in rigid and flexible containers and tested under controlled dynamic conditions using a uni-axial shaking table. The effects of frequency and acceleration of the base motion, surcharge pressure on the crest, number of reinforcing layers, container boundary, wall structure and reinforcement layout on the seismic performance of the retaining walls are studied through systematic series of shaking table tests. Results are analyzed to understand the effect of each of the considered parameters on the face displacements, acceleration amplifications and soil pressures on facing at different elevations of the walls. A numerical model is developed to simulate the shaking table tests on wrap faced reinforced soil walls using a computer program FLAC (Fast Lagrangian Analysis of Continua). The experimental data are used to validate the numerical model and parametric studies are carried out on 6 m height full-scale wall using this model. Thus, the study deals with the shaking table tests, dynamic response of reinforced walls and their numerical simulation. The thesis presents detailed description of various features and various parts of the shaking table facility along with the instrumentation and model containers. Methodology adopted for the construction of reinforced soil model walls and testing procedures are briefly described. Scaling and stability issues related to the model wall size and reinforcement strength are also discussed. From the study, it is observed that the displacements are decreasing with the increase in relative density of backfill, increase in surcharge pressure and increase in number of reinforcing layers; In general, accelerations are amplified to the most at the top of the wall; Behaviour of model walls is sensitive to model container boundary. The frequency content is very important parameter affecting the model response. Further, it is noticed that the face displacements are significantly affected by all of the above parameters, while the accelerations are less sensitive to reinforcement parameters. Even very low strength geonet and geotextile are able to reduce the displacements by 75% compared to unreinforced wall. The strain levels in the reinforcing elements are observed to be very low, in the order of ±150 micro strains. A random dynamic event is also used in one of the model tests and the resulted accelerations and displacements are presented. Numerical parametric studies provided important insight into the behaviour of wrap faced walls under various seismic loading conditions and variation in physical parameters.

Thesis (MScEng (Civil Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2005. / There has always been some debate in the past about the most effective and economical type of revetment to be used to combat or prevent erosion in rivers and channels. Some of the most common materials used for these mitigation measures are gabions, Reno mattresses and rip rap. A study done by the Colorado State University (CSU, 1984), comprised hydraulic tests of Reno mattresses used as a channel bed revetment. The result were compared with those of rip rap. This thesis mainly deals with the evaluation of incipient motion conditions for rock used in Reno mattresses and as rip rap. In this thesis the results of the CSU study and the design criteria of Maccaferri are evaluated and compared with the result obtained when applying the stream power theory and the Shields' theory with respect to incipient motion. This thesis includes the theory with respsect to incipient motion conditions, background to the CSU study and comparisons of the results of the CSU study and Maccaferri's design criteria with theoretical calculations. A cost comparison of Reno mattresses and rip rap as channel bed revetment measures, as well as conclusions and recommendations with regard to the design and use of these options, are also included. The frame of reference for this thesis is the set of CSU test results. The calibrations achieved, proposals made and accuracy of conclusions thus depend on those results.

Thesis (MScEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / Durability and impermeability in a water-retaining structure are of prime importance if the structure is to fulfill its function over its design life. In addition, serviceability cracking tends to govern the design of water retaining structures. This research concentrates on load-induced cracking specifically that due to pure bending and to direct tension in South African reinforced concrete water retaining structures (WRS). As a South African design code for WRS does not exist at present, South African designers tend to use the British codes in the design of reinforced concrete water-retaining structures. However, with the release of the Eurocodes, the British codes have been withdrawn, creating the need for a South African code of practice for water-retaining structures. In updating the South African structural design codes, there is a move towards adopting the Eurocodes so that the South African design codes are compatible with their Eurocode counterparts. The Eurocode crack model to EN1992 (2004) was examined and compared to the corresponding British standard, BS8007 (1989). A reliability study was undertaken as the performance of the EN1992 crack model applied to South African conditions is not known. The issues of the influence of the crack width limit and model uncertainty were identified as being of importance in the reliability crack model.