INSTRUMENTED REINFORCED WALL: MEASUREMENTS AND FEM RESULTS

A vertical retaining wall was constructed by reinforcing the backfill with two different types of geogrids. Reinforcements were instrumented with strain gauges, tensile load transducers, horizontal displacements sensors and total pressure transducers. The structure was monitored over a period of about 16,000 hours, starting from the early phase of construction until failure, which was induced by surcharging the wall with backfill. The collected data on soil stress, strain and displacement along reinforcements have been compared with the results of finite element analysis and conventional limit equilibrium design method. Depending on the reinforcement, the failure mechanisms have been identified.