ISSN (Online) 2393-8021
IARJSET ISSN (Print) 2394-1588
International Advanced Research Journal in Science, Engineering and Technology
Vol. 6, Issue 7, July 2019
Reinforced Earth Wall-Causes of
Failure and Remedy
Ashok Kumar Sharma
M. Tech (Structure), Technical Adviser, Lion Group, Bhopal (MP), India
Abstract: Reinforced Earth Wall (RE Wall), is a composite material formed by cohesion less soil and flexible
metal/geosynthetic reinforcing strips. Construction of a Reinforced Earth wall is straightforward and simple. Merely
place a layer of facing panels, bolt on the metal/geosynthetic reinforcing strips then backfill and compact. During the
rainy season, it has become common to hear about the failure of RE wall, consequently disrupting the traffic. There are
various causes for failure like bowing, bulging and tilting, unfortunately the user of road/highway suffers a lot in terms
of inconvenience. This paper analyses the causes of failure, effects and remedy, to minimise and avoid these failures,
by keeping suggested remedies during the design, construction and maintenance stage, by implementing good industry
practices, during design, construction and maintenance stage
Keywords: RE Wall, Geosynthetics, Hydrostatic pressure, Facia panel, Drainage system
I. INTRODUCTION
1. RE WALL - CONSTRUCTION STEPS
The performance of the RE Wall hinges depends not only on design but to a larger extent on the care and accuracy to
which the construction is carried out. The Construction of RE Wall should be therefore given due importance especially
since it involves layer wise construction.
The responsibility of the construction of a RE Wall will solely lies with the EPC-Contractor. However, the following
steps are to be followed for construction of RE Wall:
1.10 Foundation treatment, if required, shall be first completed to ensure that design parameters are attained. It should
be noted that use of RE Wall does not imply that no foundation treatment is required
1.11 The plan of the RE Wall shall be marked on ground as per approved drawing/design.
1.12 Excavate and compact the base of the ground to the embedment depth and required width, to a dry density of 95
percent of the Modified Proctor Density.
1.13 The trench shall be backfilled using reinforced fill, levelled and well compacted to achieve 95 percent Modified
Proctor Maximum Dry Density. An initial levelling pad of 150 mm thick using (minimum) M15 plain cement concrete
having suitable width to be placed below the first row of fascia layer.
1.14 The first layer of face block or element is placed on the base and level envisaged in the drawing.
1.15 The alignment of the block/facing element must be checked regularly to make sure the wall is straight or curve as
per approved drawing/design.
1.16 The required thickness of drainage material shall be placed at the back facing block/panel and in the hollows
effacing block. The drainage material shall be compacted with vibratory plate compactor and within the block cavities.
No heavy compaction equipment should be allowed to operate within 1.5m of the back of face panel.
1.16 Placing the reinforced soil backfill behind the drainage zone and compacting to a minimum of 95 percent
Modified Proctor density/80 percent Relative Density. The backfill should be placed and compacted in layers. The
compacted thickness of each layer shall not exceed 200 mm. At no stage of construction, the compaction or any other
equipment shall be allowed to operate directly on the reinforcement.
1.17 When in direct contact, the backfill material and the drainage material shall be separated using permeable non-
woven geotextile.
1.18 The successive face element shall be placed as per required line and level. In several cases outward movement has
been observed due to poor connection of reinforcement with face element. Provisions given in approved
design/drawings should be followed. The same procedure shall be repeated until the final layer of reinforcement is
reached.
1.19 Before placing the drainage material and backfill, the reinforcement should be cut to length and placed on top of
the face block. The reinforcement should be stretched to ensure that there are no wrinkles and the reinforcement is taut.
1.20 Care should be taken to ensure that geo-grid is slightly away from the external junction of outside face of fascia
block. This will ensure that the geo-grid does not protrude out of the wall and is prevented from UV ray exposure.
Copyright to IARJSET DOI 10.17148/IARJSET.2019.6710 60
ISSN (Online) 2393-8021
IARJSET ISSN (Print) 2394-1588
International Advanced Research Journal in Science, Engineering and Technology
Vol. 6, Issue 7, July 2019
1.21 Second layer of facia block is laid over the geo-grid, so that geo-grid is completely interlocked between the
blocks. The above procedure is repeated for subsequent geo-grid layers.
1.23 Where panels are used, the reinforcement should be connected to connector embedded in the panel. The
connection envisaged should be clearly indicated in the approved design and outlined in the "good for construction
drawings". At no stage of construction, the details envisaged in design should be changed.
1.24 When panels are used it is desirable to keep an initial inward better. It should be in accordance with
drawing/design/specifications, which states that it may be necessary to set facing unit at an additional batter than as
provided in the drawings since there is a tendency for initially positioned units of facia to lean outward as the fill
material is placed and compacted. Care and caution shall be taken to accommodate this phenomenon. At the end of the
construction, the face may have a slight residual inward batter.
1.25 Where the retained fill is borrowed and is different from the reinforced fill, the construction should progress
simultaneously.
II. COMMON CAUSES OF FAILURE OF RE WALLS
Design and construction of Reinforced Earth walls is an involved process requiring due diligence and quality control.
Moreover, repairs and remedial measures are often laborious, difficult, time consuming, expensive, often ineffective in
the long run and in most of the cases impossible to implement. The designer and the owner should therefore be
cautioned that while there are several advantages of using RE Walls these are not realised unless careful consideration
is given to design as well as construction procedures. Failures can be in serviceability as well as collapse. Common
causes of distress and/or failures are summarised in Table-01, with possible remedial measures.
Table - 01
S.No Causes Effect Remedial measures
1 Inadequate Investigations Excessive differential/total settlement Adequate detailed
regarding founding soil - resulting in Bulging/leaning of face investigation should be done
typically erroneous or panels and uneven riding surface in for foundation to ensure the
inadequate data for plan, bearing capacity failure leading safe bearing capacity.
classification, shear strength, to excessive distortion or collapse
stratification
2 Inadequate investigations Difficulty in compaction, Build-up of Detailed investigations
regarding borrow area hydrostatic pressure if the fill contains should be done regarding
material to be used as high percentage of fines resulting in borrow area material to be
reinforced soil; typically data bulging and/or leaning of fascia. used as reinforced soil and its
which would give reliable properties as mentioned in
and consistent knowledge approved drawing/
regarding shear strength and design/specifications.
permeability properties of the
entire borrow area fill
3 Inadequate inputs regarding Excessive strain in the reinforcement Adequate details about
reinforcement properties - resulting in bulging and or/local reinforcement properties -
typically data for creep, failures in the long run. typically data for creep,
strength etc. strength etc.; as mentioned in
approved drawing/design
/specifications
4 Inadequate drainage bay Excessive hydrostatic Adequate drainage bay
design to ensure drainage pressure/development of pore pressure design to ensure drainage
from retained fill resulting bulging and/or leaning of from retained fill, to make
fascia. safe and secure passage for
water
5 Inadequate/improper Excessive settlement resulting in Adequate/proper levelling
levelling pad construction as distortion/ leaning of the wall, and pad to be constructed as far
far as material, level etc. is uneven riding surface Clogging of as material, level etc, is
concerned drainage pipes concerned, as per approved
drawing/design/specifications
Copyright to IARJSET DOI 10.17148/IARJSET.2019.6710 61
ISSN (Online) 2393-8021
IARJSET ISSN (Print) 2394-1588
International Advanced Research Journal in Science, Engineering and Technology
Vol. 6, Issue 7, July 2019
6 Compaction not meeting Leaning and eventual collapse of Adequate Compaction not
specifications panels/blocks leading to local achieved. Reinforced fill not
Reinforced fill not meeting failures/bulging of walls in gradation, permeability
specifications in gradation, plasticity characteristics etc.
permeability plasticity asper approved design
characteristics etc. /drawing/specifications
7 Improper drainage details Panels not battered sufficiently. Large Adequate and proper
like perforated pipe details, backfill placing, Backfill material placed drainage details like
laying, location in plan and wet of optimum moisture content. perforated pipe details,
elevation, outlet levels, etc. Backfill contains excessive fine laying, location in plan and
Improper Connection to materials. Backfill material pushed elevation, outlet levels, etc.
fascia at variation with against back of wall before being to be provided Proper
respect to specifications compacted on strips. Connection to fascia at
/drawing Heavy Excessive or vibratory compaction on variation with respect to
Compaction equipment uniform fine sand. Backfill material approved specifications/
coming within 1 .5 m of the dumped close to free end of reinforcing drawing, to be provided
face of the wail. strips, then spread towards back of wall, Avoid heavy Compaction
Drainage bay material not causing bulge in strips and pushing equipment - within 1 .5 m of
meeting specifications panel out. the face of wail.
Initial batter not provided in Plasticity index of backfill material in
panels excess of specification limits
8 Normally, RE Walls are not Excessive settlement resulting in Where hydrostatic pressures
designed for hydrostatic distortion/ leaning of the wall, and are likely due to
pressures. uneven riding surface submergence; the design
Clogging of drainage pipes should account for such
pressure.
To ensure that these
conditions are realised in the
field, adequate drainage
measures need to be taken
III. CONCLUSION
3.10 Selection and approval of borrow area with respect to specified parameter is very important, for the stability, and
performance of RE Wall.
3.11 Proper supervision and material tests as per frequency are required to be performed
3.12 Construction supervision of the workmanship during the construction of RE Wall is quite important
3.13 Proper supervision of layer wise compaction during the construction of RE Wall is quite significant
IV. RECOMMENDATIONS
4.10 The construction of RE wall should progress with strict quality control, in respect of men, material and plant
4.11 The care should be taken while erection of panel, so that EPDM is not dislocated from its specified position.
4.12 During erection of panels, wooden clamps with tie rods, wedges and temporary supports are provided, wherever
required
4.13 The 3-Dimensional drainage plan should be used for ensuring proper drainage during heavy rains.
4.14 The provision of hydrostatic and hygroscopic pressure, should be accounted for in design for heavy rainfall zones.
4.15 Small walk-behind vibrating rollers or flat-plate compactors are needed for compaction within 1.50m of facing
panels
REFERENCES
[1]. MoRTH-(Fifth Revision)-2013-Specification of Road and Bridge works
[2]. IRC: SP:102-2014- Guidelines for Design and Construction of Reinforced Soil Walls
[3]. IRC:113-2013- Guidelines for the Design and Construction of Geosynthetic Reinforced Embankments on Soft Subsoils
Copyright to IARJSET DOI 10.17148/IARJSET.2019.6710 62
