Influence of Rainfall Intensity on the Structural Behavior of Reinforced Soil Retaining Wall

Abstract

The response mechanisms of reinforced soil retaining wall structures under rainfall infiltration are not fully understood, leading to insufficient design guidelines. This study investigates a modular reinforced soil retaining wall model employing concrete blocks as the facing panel, standard sand as backfill, and a biaxial geogrid as reinforcement. Three sets of tests with varying rainfall intensities (150 mm/h, 300 mm/h, and 450 mm/h) were conducted to analyse and compare the response patterns of rainwater infiltration, earth pressure distribution, reinforcement strain, and displacement characteristics. The results indicate that with increasing rainfall intensity, the depth of infiltration influence extends across the entire wall section, with significant water accumulation at the base under heavy rainstorm conditions. The distribution pattern of static earth pressure is generally consistent across tests; however, a notable abrupt change reaching 8.59 kPa was observed at mid-height under rainstorm conditions. The strain increment distribution in the reinforcement is non-uniform, with increments under heavy rain and heavy rainstorm conditions being less than those under rainstorm conditions. The displacement of the wall panel is greatest in the middle and upper sections, with the smallest displacement occurring under rainstorm conditions. The displacement pattern shows a negative correlation with both the static earth pressure and the reinforcement strain patterns. These findings provide theoretical support for drainage design and stability control of reinforced soil retaining walls in regions experiencing heavy rainfall.