Soil Reinforcement

Concepts, Applications, Design & Construction

29 & 30 March 2016,

ICE UAE

Presented by:

Jayakrishnan P.V.
B.Tech (Civil), M.Tech (Geotech),
Regional Technical Manager,
Maccaferri Middle East, Dubai.
CONCEPT OF REINFORCED SOIL
without soil reinforcement with soil reinforcement
TYPES OF SOIL REINFORCEMENTS

Steel strip (no more used in the gulf countries)

Geostrip (mainly used for retaining walls in gulf countries)

Various types Geogrids (extruded, bonded, woven etc)

Woven geotextiles
Codes & Guidelines for Soil Reinforcement Applications
(practised in the gulf countries)
BS8006-2010 FWHA : 2010 EBGEO : 2010 EN 1997-1
British AASHTO German Eurocode
Standard Guidelines Standard
Eurocode 7-
Code of Design & Recommend Geotechnical
practise for construction ations for Design-Part
strengthene of designs and 1:General
d reinforced mechanically analysis of Rules
soils and stabilised earth
other fills earth walls structures
& reinforced using
soil slopes, geosynthetic
Volume I & II reinforceme
nts
Major applications of Soil Reinforcement as per design codes

Retaining Walls & Bridge Abutments

Retaining Slopes
Soil Nailing
Embankments
On soft soil (like Sabkha in gulf countries)
Over piles
Over areas prone to subsidence
 Major applications of Soil Reinforcement as per design codes

Subject of Soil Nailed Slopes will be out of scope of this session due to time constraints
SOIL REINFORCEMENT APPLICATIONS
FOR
RETAINING WALLS & SLOPES
Retaining walls & Slopes definition in terms of inclination
angle:

Slope Wall

Slope angle up to 70o Slope angle greater than 70o

TYPICAL CROSS-SECTION OF A HIGHWAY RETAINING WALL
Crash barrier Friction Slab
Pavement

Drainage Pipe

Facing Panel Structural Fill Backfill

Soil Reinforcement
Embedment
Depth Transverse Drainage Pipe

Levelling Pad
Geotextile
Foundation Soil
Design of Soil Reinforced Retaining Wall

Stability Checks :

1. External Stability is addressed to check against over-turning,

sliding and foundation failure

2. Internal Stability is addressed to determine soil reinforcement

spacing, strength & length

3. Miscellaneous considerations, including wall facing details are

addressed.
External Stability checks
Internal Stability checks

1. Two-part wedge analysis

2. Slices Method for Circular Slip Method

Pull-out

Rupture

a) Pull-out and rupture/tear failure b) Compound failure

 Best Geosynthetic Project in Geo-middle East 2015 Conference
32m high nearly vertical Maccaferri ParaMesh retaining wall for Al Jais
Mountain Road Project, Ras Al Khaima, UAE.
 Components : (1) Terramesh System & (2) ParaLink 300 high strength
geogrid

Polyester
tendons
Weft element to
provinde grid like
configuration
Warp element
Polyethelene
provinding sterngth
sheathing
to geogrid.
 Retaining walls were
designed with a 10:1 set back at
each 1m high Terramesh
course, creating an 84 back
slope.

Three intermediate horizontal

berms were incorporated to give
the wall a lighter visual aspect.

Foundations are 1.5 m deep,

while the vertical spacing of
Paralink 300 was used as per
design requirement.
 Completed structure view from highest point (2013).
 Retaining Wall for Aramex Ware House Extension in DWC, Dubai, UAE

Gravity gabion type original Maccaferri ParaMesh System

retaining wall solution Reinforced Soil Wall
 Retaining Wall for Aramex Ware House
Extension in DWC, Dubai, UAE

Parameter ParaMesh Wall Gabion Wall

System Type Reinforced Soil Wall Gravity Wall
Stone Quantity 2,900 cum 8,800 cum
Design Life Designed for 120 years Not known, but lesser than project requirement of 100
years
Construction Time Involves 1,450 pcs of Terramesh units and hence Involves 35,000 pcs of Gabion units and hence slower
faster
Seismic Resistance Higher Seismic Resistance Lesser Seismic Resistance
Cost Overall reduction in cost Relatively Higher
Al Ameen Mosque Parking Development, Muscat, Oman
Terramesh Slope for Landscaping Application
(Under Construction)

14 Global stability analysis (Calculation method : Rigid) List of

C - Serviceability limit state
FS = 1.346 Reinforce
TMS1 W=5.00 H=2.00
LL
12
Maccaferri Terramesh System 8/2.7P -1.00x0.80
Linear Composites ParaLink 300
TMS6
TMS2 W=3.00 H=2.00
10 Maccaferri Terramesh System 8/2.7P -1.00x0.80
TMS5
TMS3 W=3.00 H=2.00
Maccaferri Terramesh System 8/2.7P -1.00x0.80
8 TMS4
TMS4 W=3.00 H=2.00
Maccaferri Terramesh System 8/2.7P -1.00x0.80
TMS3
6 TMS5 W=3.00 H=2.00
Maccaferri Terramesh System 8/2.7P -1.00x0.80
TMS2
TMS6 W=3.00 H=2.00
4 Maccaferri Terramesh System 8/2.7P -1.00x0.80
TMS1

[m] 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28
Architectural Walls for
Villa Project in Muscat, Oman.
(Under Construction)
 Segmental Block Walls & Concrete Panel Walls
from Iran

Block
Wall

Panel
Panel Wall
Wall
 Segmental Block Walls & Concrete Panel Walls
from Iran

Panel Wall Block Walls

Panel Wall
SOIL REINFORCEMENT APPLICATIONS
FOR
GROUND IMPROVEMENT
Soil Reinforcement in Ground Improvement Applications

Need for Ground Improvement......

Increase bearing capacity & shear strength of soil

Reduce compressibility

Control shrinking and swelling

Reduce susceptibility to liquefaction

Reduces pore water pressure

Decrease settlement
Need for Ground Improvement Techniques

Increase strength of soil

Reduce compressibility

Control shrinking and swelling

Reduce susceptibility to liquefaction

Reduces pore water pressure

Decrease settlement
Methods of Ground Improvement
Replacement

Densification

Soil stabilization

Consolidation / Dewatering by overloading/stage construction

Grouting, Soil Nailing

Pre consolidation by Sand/Stone columns

BASAL REINFORCEMENT by high strength Geogrids

Combination of above
Basal Reinforcement Applications
Geosynthetic Reinforcement Applications in Roads

ASPHALT REINFORCEMENT
Bound layers

SOIL STABILISATION
Unbound layers

BASAL REINFORCEMENT

Scope of this session is to focus only on Basal Reinforcement Applications

Construction of embankments on soft soil (like Sabkha) and
organic peat can be critical because of their low shear
strength and high compressibility.
Consistency Undrained
strength (kPa)
Slip instability Embankment Very stiff or hard >150

Stiff 100-150

Firm to stiff 75-100

Soft foundation Firm 50-75

Soft to firm 40-50

Soft 20-40

Very soft <20

Contribution of Soil Reinforcement for stability of Embankment

Embankment Anchorage
block
Reinforcement
Contribution of Soil Reinforcement for stability of Embankment

Foundation stress condition Reinforcement stress condition

Vertical and outward shear Vertical and inward

stress on foundation soil shear stress

unreinforced reinforced

Fill weight normal stress

Fill thrust shear stress

Basal Reinforcement Applications on Sabkha Soil

Sabkha is an Arabic expression to describe recent coastal sediments with a

high salt content and are characterized by very low bearing capacities and low
SPT values. Sabkha soils are widely distributed in the Arabian Peninsula.

Geotechnical properties of Sabkha Soils*

There are several research works available on geotechnical parameters and
classification of Sabkha. From the geotechnical design point of view, the simple
classifications known are;

Muddy Sabkha: These soils are generally found between +2m and -6m
related to present sea level and are all near the coast. These Sabkha soils are
relatively young.

Sandy Sabkha: Sandy Sabkha are often sandy layers inter-bedded with
sandy mud. These ancient soils can be found as far as 50 km inland

*Courtesy: Jan-Maarten Elias; Building Roads on Sabkha Soils with Geosynthetic Systems
Geotechnical Properties of Sabkha Soil
 Problematic Muddy Sabkha Soil Found in Gulf Countries

Muddy Sabkha in UAE; adjacent to Muddy Sabkha in Oman; along the

Mafraq Ghwaifat Highway shores in Duqm Special Economic Zone
 Design Checks for Stability
Local Stability Rotational Stability

Foundation Extrusion Stability Lateral Sliding Stability

Excessive Settlement
Global Stability
 Basal Reinforced Piled Embankments
CL

Gabion Thrust Block Embankment Fill

Geosynthetic H

Pile Caps
Control on settlement of embankment
Improved Bearing Capacity
Rapid method of construction Highly Compressible
Soft Soil

End Bearing Piles

Through Soft Material

a Geosynthetic Spanning
Pile Cap
Embankments fill High modulus
in Two Dimensions

GeoGrid a

Pile
s
s
Soft foundation soil Piles
 Basal Reinforced Piled Embankments
Basal Reinforcement Over Piles is preferred over simple
Basal Reinforcement Technique at Bridge Ramps
 Basal Reinforcement Spanning Voids
Problematic when embankments, roads or building are to be
constructed above potential sink hole locations or areas that
cannot be compacted due to presence of utilities or other
constraints.
 Basal Reinforcement Spanning Voids

Sequence of events no reinforcement

Embankment

Subsoil

Void
 Basal Reinforcement Spanning Voids

Sequence of events with reinforcement

Surface depression

Embankment Reinforcement
deflects
Subsoil

Void
Basal Reinforced Embankment for Service Corridor Project, Duqm, Oman.
Site Criteria & tender solution
Out of the 20km of road length,
approximately 8km of road
embankment is to pass through
Sabkha soil of depth varying
from 2m to 6m.

The road embankment will have

a maximum height of 3m.

As per tender documents, for

locations with Sabkha depth
4m, soil replacement for full
depth of Sabkha required. For Weak muddy Sabkha with Cu as low
locations with Sabkha depth
as =10KPa & CBR less than 1.0
greater than 4m, Stone columns
to be adopted.
Basal Reinforced Embankment for Service Corridor Project, Duqm, Oman.
Basal Reinforced Embankment for Service Corridor Project, Duqm, Oman.

Design Type Without basal With basal

reinforcement reinforcement
Target Achieved Target Achieved
Static FOS 1.0 0.334 1.0 1.057
(BS 8006, ultimate
limit state)
Seismic FOS 1.3 0.367 1.3 1.56
(BS 8006,
serviceability limit
state)
Geogrid Bridge Spanning Over Non-Compacted Area in Jumeirah Open
Beach Project, Dubai, UAE.

New villas proposed in

Jumeirah Open Beach.
Due to existing utilities,
some location cannot
be vibro-compacted that
creates a Void like
Condition with limited
support from subsoil.
Geogrid Soil Reinforcement Technique To Improve Global Stability of
Additional 6m High Filling in Blue Water Island Project, Dubai, UAE.

3-D Rendering of Initial Master plan of Blue Water Island Project

Geogrid Soil Reinforcement Technique To Improve Global Stability of
Additional 6m High Filling in Blue Water Island Project, Dubai, UAE.

Failure in Post Liquefaction Case in Overall Stability Due to Additional 6m Fill

Geogrid Soil Reinforcement Technique To Improve Global Stability of
Additional 6m High Filling in Blue Water Island Project, Dubai, UAE.

POSSIBLE STABILIZATION OPTIONS CHECKED & PROPOSED BY CLIENT

Option 1: Top Filling to be made of Cement Stabilized Sand

Geogrid Soil Reinforcement Technique To Improve Global Stability of
Additional 6m High Filling in Blue Water Island Project, Dubai, UAE.

POSSIBLE STABILIZATION OPTIONS CHECKED & PROPOSED BY CLIENT

Option 2: Extension of Quarry Run Trench at Toe of Revetment

Geogrid Soil Reinforcement Technique To Improve Global Stability of
Additional 6m High Filling in Blue Water Island Project, Dubai, UAE.

POSSIBLE STABILIZATION OPTIONS CHECKED & PROPOSED BY CLIENT

Option 3 : Grouting Liquefiable Sand Layer Below the Breakwater Core

Geogrid Soil Reinforcement Technique To Improve Global Stability of
Additional 6m High Filling in Blue Water Island Project, Dubai, UAE.

POSSIBLE STABILIZATION OPTIONS CHECKED & PROPOSED BY CLIENT

Option 4 : New Filling at top to be stabilized with high strength geogrids

Geogrid Soil Reinforcement Technique To Improve Global Stability of
Additional 6m High Filling in Blue Water Island Project, Dubai, UAE.

Load Cases & Factor Of Safety (FOS) Table

 Geogrid Soil Reinforcement Technique To Improve Global Stability of
Additional 6m High Filling in Blue Water Island Project, Dubai, UAE.

Global Stabilization with high Strength Geogrids accommodating utilities

Health & Safety Aspects Related to Soil Reinforcement
Applications Design & Construction

Generally, the design shall produce contract documents to enable

works to be constructed which fulfill the specified requirements with
respect to safety, serviceability, economy and durability, taking into
account the expected service life.
The following documentations and practices are required to be
approved prior to execution;
Material Safety Data Sheets for each type of Soil Reinforcement
Method Statements & Risk Assessments
Lift Plans & Enabling Works
Safety Instructions related to installation
Thank you for your presence & support!
Questions????