ABSTRACT
Geosynthetics have led to economies in retaining wall, slope stabilisation and embankment construction. Nevertheless, an understanding of the mechanics of these structures has lagged behind the use of these materials. The paper provides an overview of a program of full-scale model testing at RMC to provide comprehensive performance data for reinforced walls and embankments. The structures were surcharge loaded to stress levels well in excess of working load conditions and most taken to collapse. Also reported are complimentary programs of reduced-scale model tests that have been used to record the performance ofrein-forced retaining walls constructed with non-select fills and tests carried out using a shaking table to record the response of models during simulated earthquake loading. The results of these programs have led to better understanding of the mechanics of soil-structure interaction, modification of design methods and a database of physical data that can be used to verify numerical models.
