A simplified displacement-based hybrid approach for the design of geosynthetic-reinforced earth walls

Design criteria for geosynthetic-reinforced earth walls are usually based on simplified limit equilibrium approaches, taking into account ultimate conditions both with respect to soil strength and reinforcements’ resistance (tensile and pull-out). Convenient values of partial safety factors are then introduced to get a safe structural dimensioning. The stability of internal failure mechanisms is however based on the mobilization of soilgeosynthetic interface shear stresses and the reinforcement action should rather be computed as a function of the current internal displacements within the wall. In the paper a simplified displacement-based hybrid approach is introduced, combining traditional limit equilibrium analyses of internal failure mechanisms together with displacement controlled non-linear pull-out analyses of the reinforcements. A consistent relationship between the safety factor and the performance of the wall (i.e. façade displacement) can then be derived, providing the designers of an objective tool to optimize the design choices and to run consistent structural safety checks.