A new testing approach for evaluating soil-reinforcement interaction in geosynthetic reinforced walls

This study introduces an innovative apparatus designed to simulate soil-reinforced walls with geosynthetics, addressing challenges associated with reduced-scale models. The apparatus, featuring a box measuring 1.60 m x 1.10 m x 0.55 m with a glass face, replicates a segment of a geosynthetic-reinforced soil wall simulating the upper layer with an airbag. The methodology included assembling soil layers and geosynthetics, inflating a compressed air bag to apply pressure, and utilising displacement measuring devices (LVDTs) to monitor displacements at various wall heights. The findings validate the effectiveness of the apparatus in simulating soil-reinforced walls, offering a reliable and resource-efficient method for evaluating soil-geosynthetic interaction in a controlled environment.