A simple approach for probabilistic internal stability analysis and design of reinforced soil walls

Richard J. Bathurst, Nezam Bozorgzadeh

In the proceedings of: GeoSt. John's 2019: 72nd Canadian Geotechnical Conference

Session: Reliability/Probabilistic Approaches

ABSTRACT: This paper explains probabilistic analysis and design for simple internal stability limit states for mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) walls using the example of steel grid reinforced soil walls. The general approach uses a closed-form solution for reliability index which is easily implemented in a spreadsheet and thus eliminates the need for Monte Carlo simulation. A novel feature of the formulation is that it includes uncertainty in the choice of nominal values [which is consistent with the notion of level of understanding that appears in the Canadian Highway Bridge Design Code] and the underlying accuracy of the load and resistance models that appear in each limit state equation using bias statistics. The paper demonstrates how bias statistics for tensile load and pullout model accuracy can be gathered from load measurements recorded from instrumented walls and found in laboratory pullout box test databases. The concepts are general and can be applied to any soil-structure interaction problem which can be expressed by a simple linear limit state performance function and for which bias statistics are available.

RÉSUMÉ: terre ainsi le besoin dincertitude dans le choix des valeurs nominales [ce qui est compatible avec la notion de niveau de compréhension qui figure dans le Code de conception des ponts-routes du Canada] et la précision sous-jacente des modèles de charge et de résistance qui apparaissent dans chaque équation d'état limite utilisant des statistiques de biais. Le document montre comment les statistiques de biais pour la charge de traction et la précision du modèle d'arrachement peuvent être collectées à partir de mesures de charge enregistrées sur des murs instrumentés et celles trouvées dans des bases de t être appliqués à tout problème -structure qui peut être exprimé par une simple fonction de performance à état limite linéaire et pour lequel des statistiques de biais sont disponibles.

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