New design method of geocomposites-reinforced cohesive earth fills

Abstract

The recent development of new geosynthetics such as geocomposites has enabled the construction of earth filled structures using marginal soils, i.e.: a high water content volcanic cohesive soils such as Kanto Loam and /or construction by-products which have never been used as fill materials. Recently developed geocomposite comprises a sandwich structure of both non-woven fabric in between woven fabric and has over the tensile strength of geogrids of woven fabrics and also having the drainage effect of non-woven fabrics. However, current design methods of nonwoven fabric-reinforced earth fills have never considered the strength increase of the soil caused by consolidation. Therefore, this paper proposes a new design method for earth fill structures considering the reinforcing function together with strength increase of the volcanic loam caused mainly by drainage. This paper considers also the soil-fabric interaction and the effect of geocomposite on the final performance of steep earth fill structures.