Disruption, innovation, and opportunity with reinforced soil structures

Abstract

Reinforced soil is an area where amazing opportunity remains. Its failures have been embarrassing and disruptive, even catastrophic, for companies and governments. After reviewing design methods (i.e., limit, stiffness, and granular stability), this paper describes four areas of innovation and opportunity: • Optimal Stiffness - fiberglass and aramid • Stabilization of Poor Quality Fills - non-woven geosynthetics • Friction Connections and Facing Pressure - steel grids • Strips versus Sheets - geosynthetic strips The two common construction types (i.e., steel strips, geosynthetic grids or sheets) represent only 25% or two out of eight possibilities discussed. This paper explains why the other six construction types, or 75%, are promising if not better.