Challenges faced in design & construction of 12 m high geosynthetic reinforced soil slope repair in urban setting

Philip A. Perzia, Michael J. Simons

In the proceedings of: GEO2011: 64th Canadian Geotechnical Conference, 14th Pan-American Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, 5th Pan-American Conference on Teaching and Learning of Geotechnical Engineering

Session: Retaining Walls

ABSTRACT: The first geogrid reinforced soil structures in North and South America were built in southern Ontario, Canada in the early 1980s. These first structures were steep slopes, typically built at 45°, with a vegetated face. Since then, the design and construction techniques have evolved due to many innovations and refinements. In the City of Mississauga, Ontario, a recently designed and constructed geogrid reinforced soil slope utilized many of these innovations and refinements. The repair of this 12 m high slope failure along 100 m of the Etobicoke Creek presented many geometric and geotechnical challenges that required some unique and powerful solutions. Some of these challenges were due to the urban setting. At the top of the slope sits a residential townhouse development. Underground utilities sit in the rear yards beyond the shoulder of the slope with sanitary sewer pipes running beyond the toe of the slope in the floodplain below. In order to protect the safety and integrity of the townhouses, the underground utilities and the sewers, the slope failure had to be repaired in a timely and economical manner while blending in with the natural ravine environment. This case study will describe how these challenges were addressed during the design and construction of this geogrid reinforced soil slope repair in an urban setting. PRESENTACIONES TÉCNICAS Las primeras estructuras de la tierra reforzada con geogrid en America del Norte y del Sur, fueron construidas en el Sur de Ontario, Canada en la decada de 1980. Estas primeras estructuras fueron pronunciadas pendientes construidas a 45o, con un frente de vegetacion. Desde entonces las tecnicas de diseño y construccion se han desarrollado debido a las muchas innovaciones y mejoras. En la ciudad de Mississauga - Ontario, un reciente diseño de geogrid fue construido y utilizado para reforzar un pronunciado declive, utilizando varias de estas tecnicas y diseños. Las reparaciones de este declive de 12 metros de alto a lo largo de 100 metros de Etobicoke Creek, presentaron varias dificultades geotecnicas y geometricas que requirieron unicas y poderosas soluciones. Algunos de los problemas eran debido al entorno urbano. En la parte superior de la ladera se encuentra un complejo de viviendas residenciales. Estaciones subterraneas de servicios publicos en los patios traseros mas alla del hombro de la pendiente y mas utilidades mas alla de la punta de la pendiente. Con el fin de proteger la seguridad e integridad de las residencias, los servicios publicos y otras utilidades, la falta de pendiente tuvo que ser reparada de manera oportuna y economica, mezclando con el medio ambiente natural del barranco. Este estudio describe como estos problemas se abordaron durante el diseño y construccion del geogrid reforzado para la reparacion de una pendiente en el suelo de un establecimiento urbano.

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Cite this article:
Philip A. Perzia; Michael J. Simons (2011) Challenges faced in design & construction of 12 m high geosynthetic reinforced soil slope repair in urban setting in GEO2011. Ottawa, Ontario: Canadian Geotechnical Society.

@article{GEO11Paper956,author = Philip A. Perzia; Michael J. Simons ,title = Challenges faced in design & construction of 12 m high geosynthetic reinforced soil slope repair in urban setting,year = 2011}