Simplified approach for assessing seismic displacements of soil-retaining walls. Part II: Geosynthetic-reinforced walls with rigid panel facing

Critical seismic coefficient (K_her) and seismic displacement of some idealized geosynthetic-reinforced walls with full-height rigid panel facing (GRS-FHR walls) were calculated using a pseudo-static-based multi-wedge method in association with Newmark's sliding block theory. The proposed method uses experimentally verified lateral earth pressure coefficients to evaluate connection force at the facing/reinforcement interface subjected to various input seismic loadings. It was found that the values of critical seismic coefficient, K_her, can be expressed as linear functions of some dominant factors, such as the internal friction angle of backfill (φ_s) and the ratio between reinforcement length (L) and wall height (H_t). Empirical equations for the values of 'k_her as functions of φ_s, L/H_t and other factors were established, and these equations were used in conjunction with seismic displacement evaluation methods proposed in this study. Based on the result of seismic displacement evaluations on a well-documented GRS-FHR wall that experienced the 1995 Hyogoken-Nambu earthquake, the effectiveness of the simplified approach for assessing seismic displacement of GRS-FHR walls was verified. These results were also compared with those calculated for some geosynthetic-reinforced walls with modular block facing that have been reported in a companion paper.