Horizontal Slice Method for Analyzing the Stability of the Reinforced Retaining Wall under Seismic Load

Based on the layer-filled,layer-reinforced, layer-compacted construction characteristics of reinforced retaining wall,and the assumption of difform rupture shape of the wall which is directed toward the extensibility and inextensibility of the reinforcements,a limit equilibrium method identified as horizontal slice method was presented to analyze the internal stability of the reinforced retaining wall subjected to horizontal and vertical seismic loads.Formulas about the required tensile force and length of reinforcements to maintain the internal stability of the wall were deduced.In this horizontal slice method,the sliding wedge of reinforced retaining wall was divided into a number of horizontal slices.The effects of variation of parameters such as backfill soil friction angle,horizontal and vertical seismic acceleration coefficients on the stability of the reinforced soil wall were studied.The results show that: with the reduction of backfill soil friction angle and with the increase of seismic acceleration coefficients,the stability of the reinforced retaining wall decreases significantly and thus greater strength and length of reinforcements is required.As the value of backfill soil friction angle and seismic acceleration coefficient is equal,the required length of the extensible reinforcement is bigger than that of inextensible reinforcement.Comparisons between the analysis results of the proposed method and two other published analyses indicate that the simplified rupture shape is more feasible,simple and convenient for engineering application than the log-spiral or multi-linear failure surface.