Compaction Effort of Reinforced Soil Near Vertical Facing Panel of Mechanically Stabilized Earth Wall Reinforced With Steel Strips

The construction of mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) walls are becoming common throughout the world for their satisfactory performance and economic importance. The performance of such structures majorly depends on the compaction of the reinforced soil for the good bondage of the reinforcing element with the reinforced soil. In this research, the response of an MSE wall reinforced with a galvanized steel strip and a vertical concrete facing panel has been investigated using a finite element analysis software (PLAXIS 2D) with a Mohr–Coulomb soil constitutive model. The axial force & axial strain on the reinforcing steel strips and lateral wall deformation of the facing panel are assessed for variation of relative elastic soil modulus and width of soil near the facing panel with reduced compaction. The effect of relative soil stiffness variation for wall heights of 12.0 m, 16.9 m, and 24.0 m is also evaluated. Accordingly, the lateral wall deformation of the facing panel of the MSE wall has increased by 87% for the reduction of the compaction effort near the facing panel, resulting in the reduction of the soil’s elastic modulus by 70%. Besides, the study has revealed an increment of the maximum wall displacement by 143% and the maximum tensile load by 120% for doubling the overall height of the MSE wall. The reduction of the relative elastic modulus of the near‐wall soil region has a greater impact on the lateral deformation of the facing panel than the increment in the width of the near‐wall soil region with reduced compaction. Hence, the significant impact of reduced reinforced soil compaction near the facing panel on the lateral wall displacement should be considered and given attention during the design and construction of MSE walls.