LABORATORY MODEL TESTS TO EFFECT OF DENSITY TO FILL MATERIAL ON THE PERFORMANCE OF A MODEL REINFORCED SOIL WALL

The effective functioning of reinforced earth structures is very much dependent on the quality of materials and construction. Many times, due to poor quality of the materials used and poor quality control measures exercised, the density of the reinforced soil fill is not up to the design requirements, leading to underperformance or distress of the reinforced soil walls. Therefore, it becomes necessary to evaluate the level of underperformance vis-à-vis that of relative compaction. In view of this, in the present study, a series of laboratory experiments were carried out on a model soil wall of 300 mm high with vertical face, prepared at different density states of 95%, 80% and 70% of MDD of IS HCT. The wall was subjected to monotonic load applied through a model square footing of size (B) equal to 50 mm on the surface at an offset distance of 1(B). Similar tests were carried out on the soil wall reinforced with a Woven Geotextile in wrap around form; to study the effect of density on the performance of reinforced soil wall. The results indicated proportionality between relative compaction level and performance of soil wall without and with reinforcement.