A vertical retaining wall, 4m high and 10m long, was constructed by reinforcing the backfill with geogrids. The reinforcing layers were instrumented with strain gauges, tensile geogrid load transducers and horizontal displacement sensors. In addition, total soil pressure transducers were installed inside the structure to monitor the internal state of stress of the reinforced wall. The aim of this research is to better understand the behavior of reinforced structures. In particular, the development of slip surfaces and the tensile forces acting in the reinforcements were investigated. By this analysis it was possible to assess current design approaches and related safety factors in terms of either long term tensile failure, pullout, direct sliding or compound failures. Data related to reinforcement tensile strains and loads, applied vertical pressures, rainfall and construction sequences were collected for two different geogrids over a period exceeding 10,000 hours.
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