Behaviors of two-step geogrid reinforced earth retaining wall on rigid foundation

Monitoring of a two-step reinforced earth retaining wall on the rigid foundation is carried out by use of field tests. The monitoring includes the reinforced earth bottom vertical foundation pressure and lateral earth pressure of the reinforced soil wall facing and the tensile strain in the reinforcement during construction and 1.5a post-construction. The vertical foundation pressure under reinforced earth bottom is non-linear along the reinforcement length. The maximum value of the vertical pressure is near the facing for the rigid foundation of the lower wall, while the maximum value close to end of the reinforcement for flexible foundation of the upper wall. The measured lateral earth pressure within the reinforced soil wall is non-linear along the height and the value is less than the active lateral earth pressure. The distribution of tensile strain in the geogrid reinforcements within the wall is a double peak value and the maximum strain is less than 0.4%. These monitoring results can be used as a reference for future study and design of geogrid reinforced earth retaining wall systems.