Assessment and control of a SFRC retaining structure: Mechanical issues

With the purpose to develop a fast procedure of intervention for stabilising earth slopes, a new retaining structure system taking advantage of prefabrication, post-tensioning technique, high-performance concrete and steel fibres was designed. The retaining structures is constituted of four framed precast panels and ten slabs used as external contrast for ground anchors. The paper describes the design, the on site placement phases and the GPRS monitoring of the structure during the first twenty four months. The on site behaviour of the whole retaining structure has been monitored by means of fourteen loading cells used to measure the strand forces, forty-two vibrating wire transducers for the surface strains and several optical measures used to control the rigid movement of the structure. The experience is part of a larger research project aimed at investigating the soil-structure interaction and improving the current techniques employed to stabilize ground slopes.