ABSTRACT
Internal stability analysis of segmental geosynthetic reinforced soil walls includes the verification of connection strength at the geosynthetic-block interface. The calculation of the connection load (To) has been a hard task as mechanisms are still not completely understood. This paper presents an evaluation of geogrid-modular blocks connection forces based on a laboratory test device developed to simulate load transfer mechanism at the face of geosynthetic reinforced soil walls. A reinforced system with a sand backfill, a woven geogrid and concrete blocks were subjected to incremental vertical loads while lateral earth pressures, horizontal displacements at the face, as well as reinforcement strains and load at the geogrid-block interface were monitored. and the strains of the reinforced layer were monitored. Results show differential settlements of the backfill and the facing wall leading to a down-drag effect on the reinforcement. This effect associated to face wall displacements led to a significant impact on connection loads at geosynthetic-blocks connection.
