Over the last few decades, Mechanically Stabilized Earth (MSE) walls have emerged as vital components of infrastructure development. These structures consist of geosynthetic reinforcements within compacted soil layers, supported by various facing materials. MSE walls are extensively used for construction of highway embankments, bridge abutments, and coastal protection systems. They play a crucial role in stabilizing slopes and retaining soil under extreme conditions such as excessive loads, heavy rainfall, and high seismic activities, with design flexibility and resilience to deformations. The design guidelines for these structures are well documented in various national and international codes. However, a few instances of distress have been observed in these structures. This may be due to the deviation that happened in adopting national and international design guidelines. This study attempts to highlight the deviations in following standard practices and their subsequent impact on the soil structures. The primary causes are related to construction practices, unsuitable backfill soil, and inadequate drainage system. The distress in MSE walls can be avoided if proper vigilance and good practices can be adopted. A few of the good practices are replacement of inadequate backfill soil, removal of corroded reinforcements, proper compaction, and providing provision for adequate drainage. However, distress can still be observed even with the implementation of these safety measures. To address this, remedial strategies are proposed which include partial reconstruction, filling of surficial cracks, soil nail or anchor installation, and adequate drainage system. These measures collectively reduce distress, increase stability, and prevent further deterioration, ensuring the longevity and effectiveness of the MSE wall. The study concludes with providing better understanding of the soil structure behavior, and guiding future engineers in infrastructure development.

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Mitigating Distress in MSE Walls: Causes, Remedial Strategies, and Guidance

  • Ushma Garg,
  • Apoorva Agarwal,
  • Deepak Manjunath

摘要

Over the last few decades, Mechanically Stabilized Earth (MSE) walls have emerged as vital components of infrastructure development. These structures consist of geosynthetic reinforcements within compacted soil layers, supported by various facing materials. MSE walls are extensively used for construction of highway embankments, bridge abutments, and coastal protection systems. They play a crucial role in stabilizing slopes and retaining soil under extreme conditions such as excessive loads, heavy rainfall, and high seismic activities, with design flexibility and resilience to deformations. The design guidelines for these structures are well documented in various national and international codes. However, a few instances of distress have been observed in these structures. This may be due to the deviation that happened in adopting national and international design guidelines. This study attempts to highlight the deviations in following standard practices and their subsequent impact on the soil structures. The primary causes are related to construction practices, unsuitable backfill soil, and inadequate drainage system. The distress in MSE walls can be avoided if proper vigilance and good practices can be adopted. A few of the good practices are replacement of inadequate backfill soil, removal of corroded reinforcements, proper compaction, and providing provision for adequate drainage. However, distress can still be observed even with the implementation of these safety measures. To address this, remedial strategies are proposed which include partial reconstruction, filling of surficial cracks, soil nail or anchor installation, and adequate drainage system. These measures collectively reduce distress, increase stability, and prevent further deterioration, ensuring the longevity and effectiveness of the MSE wall. The study concludes with providing better understanding of the soil structure behavior, and guiding future engineers in infrastructure development.