Chapter-Ix - Introduction To Soil Reinforcement Technique

CHAPTER-IX-INTRODUCTION TO SOIL REINFORCEMENT
TECHNIQUE
CONCEPT OF
REINFORCED EARTH (R.E.)
Reinforced earth is a composite material

formed by the friction between the earth
and the reinforcement. By means of
friction the soil transfers to the
reinforcement the forces built up in the
earth mass. The reinforcement thus
develops tension and the earth behaves
as if it has cohesion.
Application of Reinforced Earth
• Bridge works • Land Reclamation

• Dam Embankments • Pipe works (Buried
• Foundations pipe structure)
• Highways
• Housing on hill slopes
• Industrial sites
• Military • Sports Structures
(Army Bunkers) • Sea wall & Waterways
• Root Pile system structures
Locations for use of Reinforced Earth
COMPONENTS OF R.E.
• Compacted Soil
• Wall Facing Elements
• Reinforcing Elements
COMPONENTS OF R.E.
Traditional
Earth Reinforcement
Modern Earth Reinforcement
Animations of Gravity wall Slipping
Movement
Animations of Reinforced Earth wall Face
failure
Movement
MATERIAL SELECTION
1. SOIL
• Development of sufficient friction between earth and
reinforcement.
• No interstitial pore water pressure develops within the reinforced
earth structures
• The placing and compaction of the earth fill layers can be
accomplished easily
• The soil must conform to certain electro-chemical conditions to
avoid corrosion
• The backfill should be from non-organic soils such as sand and Gravel
which are not affected by biological activity.
• Have good drainage.
• Primarily cohesion less soils are used.
MATERIAL SELECTION:
Requirements of Reinforcement For R.E.
• Reinforced members are composed of thin

wide strips also called ties.
• Should be flexible to ease placement.
• Should have adequate tensile strengths.
• Should have adequate service life taking in to
account corrosion and weathering.
MATERIAL SELECTION:
3. REINFORCING STRIPS/MATERIAL
• Based on electro-chemical properties of back fill.

• Can be chosen from metal, geo-synthetics etc based on
durability criteria.
• Select fixtures accordingly used to connect strips to the
facing elements.
MATERIAL SELECTION:
4. FACING ELEMENTS (outer skin)
• Should retain the back fill between the layers of

reinforcements.
• Made of either metal units or precast concrete panels.
• It should be able to deform without distortion.
• Can be chosen from metal and concrete.

• Based on durability and stability criteria.
• Aesthetics can be equally important when used in urban
areas.
Types of Reinforcement Material
(wall facing & Reinforcing elements
Wall Facing Elements Reinforcing Elements
- Rods of galvanized steel
- Strips/rods Stainless steel/Aluminum
• Steel - Fibre glass strips
- Galvanzed iron grids
• Aluminum - Glass-fibre Reinforced plastics ( GRP)
- Bamboos
• Plastic - Geo-synthetic reinforcement like Geo-
• Fibre textiles, Geo-grids Geo-strips, Geo-fabrics
• Glass
• Reinforced Concrete
• Used Rubber
Approach embankment for second Nizamuddin
bridge at Delhi
Worn out Tyres with soil as facing Element in an
reinforced Earth fill
Okhla flyover approach embankment
Filter
Facing medium Geogrids
panels
Pond Ash Fill
7.8 to
5.9 m
Reinforced foundation mattress of bottom ash

Steel Trip
Reinforcement
Galvanized Iron
Geo-grid
Combination Drainage and Earth Reinforcement
Techniques for Ground Improvement
Requisite Properties
- It must be tough enough to withstand rigorous placement during
installation process –tensile strength, shear strength, resistance to
ultra violet light
- It must be strong and tough enough to withstand static & dynamic

loads burst strength, puncture strength, abrasion resistance,
elongation at failures
- It must be resistant to excessive clogging or blending permeability.
- It must be resistant to rot. Insects and rodents and to chemicals &

diesel fuel.
Dimensions and Directions of Woven Textile
Wall reinforced material fiberglass mesh
to be used in soil for Geo-reinforcement
Exposure to sunlight degrades the physical properties of polymers. The rate of degradation is
reduced by the addition of carbon black but not eliminated.
Geo-fabrics and Geo-synthetics
used for reinforcement, separation, filtration and
drainage in roads, retaining walls, embankments…
Geo-fabrics and Geo-synthetics used on Pacific Highway

Use of Geo-textile for Filtration
The use of Geotextiles in filter applications is probably the oldest. In this
application, the Geotextile is placed in contact with and down gradient of soil to
be drained. Geotextile filter must allow water (or gas) to pass without significant
build-up of hydrostatic pressure.
1. The plane of the Geotextile is normal to the expected direction of water flow.
The capacity for flow of water normal to the plane of the Geotextile is referred
to as permittivity.
2. Water and any particles suspended in the water which are smaller than a given
size, flow or pass through the Geotextile. Those soil particles larger than that
size are stopped and prevented from being carried away.
3. The geotextiles substitute serve the same function as the traditional granular
filter.
4, A geotextile-lined drainage trench along the edge of a road pavement is an

example using a geotextile as a filter.
5. Slit film Geotextiles are not preferred because opening sizes are unpredictable.
Long term clogging is a concern when used for filtration.
Use of Geo-textile for Drainage
• When functioning as a drain, a Geotextile acts as a
conduit for the movement of liquids or gases in the
plane of the Geotextile.
• Examples are Geotextile used as wick drains and

blanket drains. The relatively thick non-woven Geo-
textiles are the products most commonly used.
• Selection should be based on transmissivity, which is

the capacity for in-plane flow.
Fig. Trench Drain Construction with Geotextile
6” min
12” min
Fig. Geotextile Scour Protection for Bridge Pier
Stream bed Stream bed

Use of Geo-textile for Separation
• Separation is the process of preventing two dissimilar
materials from mixing. In this function, a Geotextile is
most often required to prevent the undesirable mixing of
fill and natural soils or two different types of fills.
• A Geotextile can be placed between a railroad sub-grade

and track ballast to prevent contamination and resulting
strength loss of the ballast by intrusion of the sub-grade
soil.
• In construction of roads over soft soil, a Geotextile can be

placed over the soft sub-grade, and then gravel or crushed
stone placed on the Geotextile. The Geotextile prevents
mixing of the two materials.
Use of Geo-textile for Pavement Applications
• Geotextile for asphalt
concrete (AC) overlays on
roads and airfields and the
separation and
reinforcement of materials
in new construction. Sub-grade
Fig. Geotextile in AC Overlays
ROCK BOLTS
Soil Nailing
• The fundamental concept
of soil nailing consists of
reinforcing the ground by
passive inclusions, closely
spaced, to create in-situ a
coherent gravity structure
and thereby to increase
the overall shear strength
of the in-situ soil and
restrain its displacements.

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CHAPTER-IX-INTRODUCTION TO SOIL REINFORCEMENT

Reinforced earth is a composite material

• Bridge works • Land Reclamation

• Reinforced members are composed of thin

• Based on electro-chemical properties of back fill.

• Should retain the back fill between the layers of

• Can be chosen from metal and concrete.

Pond Ash Fill

Reinforced foundation mattress of bottom ash

- It must be strong and tough enough to withstand static & dynamic

- It must be resistant to excessive clogging or blending permeability.

- It must be resistant to rot. Insects and rodents and to chemicals &

Geo-fabrics and Geo-synthetics used on Pacific Highway

4, A geotextile-lined drainage trench along the edge of a road pavement is an

• Examples are Geotextile used as wick drains and

• Selection should be based on transmissivity, which is

Stream bed Stream bed

• A Geotextile can be placed between a railroad sub-grade

• In construction of roads over soft soil, a Geotextile can be

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