GEOSYNTHETICS ENGINEERING: IN

THEORY AND PRACTICE

Prof. J. N. Mandal

Department of civil engineering, IIT Bombay,

Powai , Mumbai 400076, India.
Tel.022-25767328
email: cejnm@civil.iitb.ac.in

Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay

 Module - 6
LECTURE - 34
Geosynthetics for reinforced soil retaining walls

Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay

Recap of previous lecture..

Design of geotextile wrap-around-faced wall

Gabion walls
General
Design of gravity gabion wall (partly covered)

Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay

Step 2: Calculation of overturning moment
Overturning moment (Mo) = Pa x hy /cos

Step 3: Calculation of weight of Gabion (W gabion)

Wgabion = g x (volume of wall per unit length)
g = Gabion fill density

Step 4: Calculate the horizontal distance of point of

application of the weight of gabion wall from toe (hg )
hg = (a . X) / A
a = Individual area of the gabions parallel to the slope,
X = distance of C.G. of the individual gabion from toe
A = Total area of the gabion wall
Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay
 For two bottom gabions,
L w a w
Lx w [ x cos( ) + x sin( )] + a x w [{( L - a ) + }x cos( ) + ( w + ) x sin( )]
2 2 2 2
hg =
(L x w + a x w )

For three bottom gabions,

L w a w a w
Lx w [ x cos() + x sin()] + a x w [{(L - a) + }x cos() + (w + )x sin()] + a x w [{(L - a ) + }x cos() + (2w + )x sin()]
2 2 2 2 2 2
hg =
(L x w + a x w + a x w )

For four bottom gabions,

L w a w
Lx w [ x cos( ) + x sin( )] + a x w [{( L - a ) + }x cos( ) + ( w + ) x sin( )]
2 2 2 2
hg = +
(L x w + a x w + a x w )
a w b w
a x w [{( L - a ) + }x cos( ) + ( 2 w + ) x sin( )] + b x w [{( L - b ) + }x cos( ) + (3 w + ) x sin( )]
2 2 2 2
(L x w + a x w + a x w )

Similarly for more number of gabions, hg can be determined.

Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay
w = thickness of each gabion
a = width of the second and third gabion from the bottom
b = width of the fourth and fifth gabion from the bottom
c = width of the sixth and seventh gabion from the bottom
d = width of the eighth and ninth gabion from the bottom
e = width of the tenth gabion from the bottom (top gabion as
shown in the Figure)
Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay
Step 5: Calculation of factor of safety against sliding

Driving force (Fd) = Pa - W gabion sin

Resisting force (Fr) = W gabion cos x Ci tan

(FOS)sliding = Fr / Fd > 1.5 (safe)

Step 6: Calculation of factor of safety against overturning

Overturning moment (Mo) = Pa x hy /cos

Resisting moment (Mr) = W gabion x hg

(FOS)overturning = Mr/ Mo > 2 (safe)

Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay
 Step 7: Calculation of eccentricity (e)

e = (L/2) (Mr Mo)/ W g cos

- L/6 < e < + L/6 (OK)

Step 8: Check against bearing pressure

Maximum base pressure developed (Pb)

= (W g cos / L) (1 + 6e/ L) < qallowable (safe)

qallowable = Allowable bearing capacity of the subgrade soil

Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay

Example:
Design a gravity gabion wall with following information:
Wall height (H) = 10 m, Wall thickness (tg) = 1 m
Surcharge (q) = 0 kPa, Backfill slope angle (i) = 0
Angle of friction between wall and soil () = 0
Wall inclination with vertical () = -6
Soil friction angle (s) = 32, Soil density (s) = 17 kN/m3
Gabion fill density (g) = 25 kN/m3
Soil bearing pressure (qallowable) = 500 kPa
Scale correction factor (Ci) = 0.7
Maximum total base width (B) = 0.7 H = 0.7 x 10 = 7 m
Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay
Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay
Solution:
Step 1: Calculation of earth pressure and its point of
application
The active earth pressure co-efficient = Ka
According to Coulombs derivation,

cos 2 ( )
Ka 2
sin( ) sin( i)
cos 2 cos( ) 1
cos( ) cos(i )

Hence,
cos 2 (32 (6))
Ka 2
0.27
sin(32 0) sin(32 0)
cos 2 (6) cos(0 (6)) 1
cos(0 (6)) cos(0 ( 6))

Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay

Therefore, the total active thrust on the wall (Pa)
= Ka (sH2/2+qH)
= 0.27 (17 x 102/2 + 0 x 10)
= 229.5 kN/m

Vertical distance of the point of application of the resultant

normal force (Pa) from toe,
3q
H v H = 10 m (Given)
H s
hy v L sin L = 0.7H = 0.7 x 10 = 7 m
3 2q
H v
s Hv = H cos = 10 x cos(6) = 9.95 m

3 0
9.95
9.95 17
hy 7 sin(6) 2.6 m
3 20
9.95
17

Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay

Step 2: Calculation of overturning moment

Overturning moment (Mo)

= Pa x hy /cos
= 229.5 x 2.6/ cos(6)
= 599.99 kN-m/m

Step 3: Calculation of weight of Gabion

Weight of gabion (W gabion)

= g x (volume of wall per unit length)
= 25 x {1 x (7+5+5+4+4+3+3+2+2+1)}
= 900 kN/m
Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay
Step 4: Calculation of horizontal distance from toe to
the point of application of Wgabion

hg = (a. X)/ A

a = Individual gabion area parallel to slope of 6,

X = distance of C.G. of the individual gabion from toe

A = Total area of the Gabion wall

= 1x (7+5+5+4+4+3+3+2+2+1)
= 36 m2

Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay

 Therefore,
7 x1(3.5 x cos( 6) 0 .5 sin( 6)) 5 x1( 4.5 cos( 6 ) 1.5 sin( 6 )) 5x1( 4.5 cos( 6) 2.5 sin( 6 )) 4 x1(5 cos( 6) 3.5 sin( 6))
hg
36
4 x1(5 x cos( 6 ) 4 .5 sin( 6)) 3x1(5.5 cos( 6 ) 5.5 sin( 6)) 3x1(5.5 cos( 6) 6.5 sin( 6)) 2 x1( 6 cos( 6) 7.5 sin( 6 ))

36
2 x 1 ( 6 cos( 6 ) 8 . 5 sin( 6 )) 1 x 1 ( 6 . 5 cos( 6 ) 9 . 5 sin( 6 ))

36

or, hg = 5.17 m
Step 5: Calculation of factor of safety against overturning

Overturning moment (Mo) = 599.99 kN-m/m

Resisting moment (Mr)

= W gabion x hg = 900 x 5.17 = 4653 kN-m/m

(FOS)overturning = Mr/ Mo = 4653/ 599.99 = 7.76 > 2 (safe)

Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay
Step 6: Calculation of factor of safety against sliding

Driving force (Fd)

= Pa - W gabion sin
= 229.5 900 sin (6)
= 135.424 kN/m

Resisting force (Fr)

= W gabion cos x Ci tan
= 900 x 0.7 x tan (32)
= 391.51 kN/m

(FOS)sliding = 391.51/ 135.424 = 2.89 > 1.5 (safe)

Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay

Step 7: Calculation of eccentricity

Eccentricity (e) = [(L/2) (Mr Mo)/ (W g cos)]

Hence, e = (7/2) (4653 599.99)/ (900 cos(6)) = -1.03

Now, L/6 = 7/ 6 = 1.17; Therefore, -1.17 < e < +1.17 (ok)

Step 8: Check against bearing pressure

Maximum base pressure developed (Pb)

= (W g cos/ L) (1 + 6e/ L)
= (900 cos/ 7) {1 + (6 x (1.03)/7)}
= 240.76 kPa < (qallowable = 500 kPa) (safe)
Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay
 Design of Gabion wall in Excel
angle of internal friction of backfill soil (s) 32
acute angle of back face slope of wall with vertical () -6
wall base inclination with horizontal () -6
angle of wall friction () 0
slope angle of backfill surface (i) 0
Unit weight of backfill soil (s) (kN/m3) 17
Height of Gabion wall (H) (m) 10
width of the wall (tg) (m) 1
Gabion fill density(g) (kN/m3) 25
Maximum total base width (L) (m) 7
surcharge load (q) (kPa) 0
Scale correction factor (Ci) 0.7
Soil bearing pressure (qallowable) (kPa) 500
Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay
width of the 1st layer (base layer) (m) 7
width of the 2nd layer (m) 5
width of the 3rd layer (m) 5
width of the 4th layer (m) 4
width of the 5th layer (m) 4
width of the 6th layer (m) 3
width of the 7th layer (m) 3
width of the 8th layer (m) 2
width of the 9th layer (m) 2
width of the 10th layer (m)
Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay
1
Calculation:

Co-efficient of active earth pressure (Ka) 0.2687

Active thrust on the wall (Pa) (kN/m) 228.4
hy (m) 2.583
hg (m) 5.165

Check for stability

Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay

Check for Stability

Weight of Gabion (W gabion) (kN/m) 900

Overturning moment (kN-m/m)

Mo 593.2
(FOS)overturning 7.837 > 2 (safe)
Resisting moment (kN-m/m)
Mr 4648.864

Driving force (kN/m)

Fd 134.2988
(FOS)sliding 2.915 > 1.5 (safe)
Resisting force (kN/m)
Fr 391.5111

eccentricity (e) (m) -1.031086208 > - 1.166

Maximum base pressure (Pb) (kPa) 240.8745 < 500 (safe)

BACK
Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay
Design of gabion wall with welded wire anchor mesh as
horizontal tie-backs

Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay

Wall height vertically = Hg, Wall thickness = tg
Surcharge = q, Backfill slope angle = i
Wall inclination with vertical =
Soil friction angle =
Soil density = s
Gabion fill density = g
Soil bearing pressure = qallowable
Scale correction factor = Ci
Maximum base width (L) = 0.7 Hg
Ultimate tensile strength = Tult
Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay
Design Steps:
External Stability:
Step 1: Calculation of earth pressure and its point of
application

Total active thrust on the wall (Pa) = Ka (sH2/2+qH)

Ka = active earth pressure co-efficient
cos 2 ( )
Ka 2
sin( ) sin( i)
cos 2 cos( ) 1
cos( ) cos(i )

i = Backfill slope angle

= Angle of friction between wall and soil
= Wall inclination with vertical
= Soil friction angle
Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay
When surcharge is applied over the backfill, the vertical
distance of point of application of the resultant normal
force (Pa) from base = hy

3q
(H g )
H g s
hy x
3 2q
( H g )
s

s = Soil density
Hg = Wall height

Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay

Step 2: Calculation of overturning moment about toe

Overturning moment (Mo)

= Pa cos x hy + Pa sin x (tg + hy tan )

Step 3: Calculation of weight of Gabion (W gabion)

Weight of gabion (W gabion)

= x (tg + tg) x Hg x g
= Hg x tg x g

g = Gabion fill density

Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay

Step 4: Calculation of horizontal distance from toe to the
point of application of W gabion

hg = tg/ 2 + (Hg/ 2) tan

tg = Wall thickness, Hg = Wall height

= Wall inclination with vertical

Step 5: Calculation of weight of surcharge (W s)

Weight of surcharge (W s) = q x l

l = L tg Hg tan (L = base width = 0.7 Hg)

q = surcharge over the backfill surface

Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay
Step 6: Horizontal distance from toe to the point of
application of W s

Horizontal distance of the weight of surcharge from the

toe of the wall = hs

hs = tg + Hg tan + l/2

l = L tg Hg tan

Step 7: Calculation of weight of Backfill soil (W soil)

Wsoil = ( x Hg tan x Hg + l x Hg) s

s = Density of backfill soil

Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay
Step 8: Horizontal distance from toe to the point of
application of W soil

hsoil = [(Hg2 tan){tg + (Hg/ 3)tan} + (Hg x l){tg + Hg tan + l/2}] x (s/ W soil)

Wsoil = Weight of backfill soil, l = L tg Hg tan

Step 9: Calculation of factor of safety against overturning
Overturning moment (Mo)
= Pa cos x hy + Pa sin x (tg + hy tan)
Resisting moment (Mr)
= W gabion x hg + W s x hs + W soil x hsoil
(FOS)overturning = Mr / Mo > 2 (safe)
Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay
 Step 10: Calculation of factor of safety against sliding

Driving force (Fd) = Pa cos

Resisting force (Fr)

= (W gabion + W s + W soil - Pa sin ) Ci tan

(FOS)sliding = Fr / Fd > 1.5 (safe)

Step 11: Calculation of eccentricity (e)

e = (L/ 2) (Mr Mo)/ W v -L/6 < e < L/6 (ok)

Wv = Total vertical downward force over the sub-grade soil
= W gabion + W s + W soil - Pa sin
Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay
Step 12: Check against bearing pressure

Maximum base pressure developed (Pb)

= (W v / L) (1 + 6e/L) < qallowable (safe)

qallowable = Soil bearing pressure

Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay

Step 13: Calculate spacing and tensile force at each layer

The vertical pressure at any layer,

z = s x z + q

s = Soil density
z = depth of the layer from the top of the wall
q = surcharge

Therefore, tensile strength at any layer,

Tcalculated = z x sv x Ka

sv = vertical spacing of reinforcements

Ka = co-efficient of active earth pressure
Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay
 Provided ultimate tensile strength = Tultimate

Hence, Tallowable = Tultimate/ Factor of safety (FS)

Using Tallowable = z x sv x Ka, determine the maximum

spacing required at the bottom.

Getting an idea, assume suitable spacing for the layers

and calculate tensile strength (Tcalculated) at any layer

Step 14: Check tensile strength at each layer

Tcalculated < Tallowable (OK)

Where, at any layer, Tcalculated = z x sv x Ka

Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay
Step 15: Calculation of minimum embedded length (Lem)
Minimum embedded length (Lem)
= FS x Tcalculated/ (2 x z x Ci x tan)
Ci = scale correction factor
= soil - to - soil friction angle
Step 16: Calculation of actual embedded length (Le)
At the top of the wall, distance to the wedge failure plane
from the back of the wall,
La = Hg tan (45 - /2) Hg tan
At any layer at a depth z, the length of embedment past the
Wedge, Le = L tg La x (Hg z)/ Hg
Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay
Step 17: Check for embedded length

At any layer,

The length of embedment past the wedge (Le)

> Minimum embedded length (Lem) (OK)

Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay

Example:
Design a Gabion wall with welded wire Anchor mesh as
horizontal tie-backs for soil reinforcement (MSE Walls).
Wall height (Hg) = 10 m, Wall thickness (tg) = 1 m
Surcharge (q) = 39 kPa, Backfill slope angle (i) = 0
Wall inclination with vertical () = -6
Soil friction angle (s) = 32, Soil density (s) = 18 kN/m3
Gabion fill density (g) = 17 kN/m3
Soil bearing pressure (qallowable) = 500 kPa
Scale correction factor (Ci) = 0.7, Tult = 60 kN/m
Maximum total base width (L) = 0.7 Hg = 0.7 x 10 = 7 m
Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay
Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay
Solution:

Step 1: Calculation of earth pressure and its point of

application

The active earth pressure co-efficient = Ka

According to Coulombs derivation,

cos 2 ( )
Ka 2
2
sin( ) sin( i )
cos cos( ) 1
cos( ) cos( i )

cos 2 (32 (6))

Hence, Ka 2
0.27
sin(32 0) sin(32 0)
cos 2 ( 6) cos(0 (6)) 1
cos(0 ( 6)) cos(0 (6))

Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay

Therefore, the total active thrust on the wall (Pa)
= Ka (sHg2/2+qHg)
= 0.27 (18 x 102/2+ 39 x 10)
= 346.6 kN/m

Vertical distance of the point of application of the resultant

normal force (Pa) from base,
3q
Hg
H g
s Hg = 10 m (Given)
hy x
3
H g
2q

q = 39 kPa, s = 18 kN/m3
s

3 x 39
10
10 18
hy x 3 . 84 m
3 2 x 39
10
18

Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay

Step 2: Calculation of overturning moment

Overturning moment (Mo)

= Pa cos x hy + Pa sin x (tg + hy tan)
= 346.6 x cos(6) x 3.84 + 346.6 x sin(6) x {1 + 3.84 x tan(6)}
=1374.50 kN-m/m
Step 3: Calculation of weight of Gabion

Weight of gabion (W gabion)

= x (tg + tg) x Hg x g
= Hg x tg x g
= 10 x 1 x 17 = 170 kN/m
Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay
Step 4: Calculation of horizontal distance from toe to
the point of application of Wgabion

hg = tg/2 + (Hg/2) tan () = 1/2 + (10/2) tan(6) = 1.026 m

Step 5: Calculation of weight of surcharge

Weight of surcharge (W s) = q x l

l = L tg Hg tan = 7 1 - 10 x tan 6 = 4.95 m

Therefore, W s = 39 x 4.95 = 193 kN/m

Step 6: Horizontal distance from toe to W s

hs = tg + Hg tan + l/2 = 1+ 10 x tan (6) + 4.95/2 = 4.53 m

Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay
Step 7: Calculation of weight of Backfill soil (W soil)

Wsoil = ( x Hg tan x Hg + l x Hg) s

= ( x 10 x tan (6) x 10 + 4.95 x 10) x18
= 985.41kN/m

Step 8: Horizontal distance from toe to W soil

hsoil = [(Hg 2 tan) {tg + (Hg/3)tan}

+ (Hg x l){ tg + Hg tan + l/2}] x (s/ W soil)
= [(102 tan6) {1 + (10/3)tan6}
+ (10 x 4.95) {1 + 10 tan6 + 4.95/2}] x (18 / 985.41)
= 3.5 m
Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay
Step 9: Calculation of factor of safety against overturning

Overturning moment (Mo) = 1374.50 kN-m/m

Resisting moment (Mr)

= W gabion x hg + W s x hs + W soil x hsoil
= 170 x 1.026 + 193 x 4.53 + 985.41 x 3.5
= 4492 kN/m

(FOS)overturning = Mr/ Mo = 4492/ 1374.50 = 3.27 > 2 (safe)

Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay

Step 10: Calculation of factor of safety against sliding

Driving force (Fd)

= Pa cos
= 346.6 x cos(6) = 344.69 kN/m

Resisting force (Fr)

= (W gabion + W s + W soil - Pa sin ) x Ci x tan
= (170 + 193 + 985.41-36.23) x 0.7 x tan (32)
= 573.96 kN/m

(FOS)sliding = 573.96 / 344.69 = 1.67 > 1.5 (safe)

Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay
Step 11: Calculation of eccentricity (e)

e = (L/2) (Mr Mo)/ W v

Wv = W gabion + W s + W soil - Pa sin

= (170 + 193 + 985.41- 36.23) = 1312.18 kN/m

Hence, e = (7/2) (4492 1374.50)/ 1312.18 = 1.124

Now, L/ 6 = 7/ 6 = 1.17

Therefore, e = 1.124 < L/ 6 (ok)

Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay

Step 12: Check against bearing pressure

Maximum base pressure developed (Pb)

= (W v/ L) (1 + 6e/L)
= (1312.18 / 7) {1 + (6 x 1.096/7)}
= 363.65 kPa < 500 kPa (qallowable) (safe)

Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay

 Please let us hear from you

Any question?

Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay

 Prof. J. N. Mandal
Department of civil engineering, IIT Bombay,
Powai , Mumbai 400076, India.
Tel.022-25767328
email: cejnm@civil.iitb.ac.in

Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay