Simplified approach for assessing seismic displacements of soil-retaining walls. Part I: Geosynthetic-reinforced modular block walls

Pseudo-static-based multi-wedge and Newmark sliding block analyses are performed to derive the values of critical seismic coefficient (k_hcr) and horizontal seismic displacement (δ_h) of geosynthetic-reinforced modular block walls (GR-MBWs). It is shown that the values of k_hcr can be expressed using linear functions of parameters representing the geometry and the reinforcement configuration of the wall. It is also shown that horizontal seismic displacement of GR-MBWs subjected to three recent major earthquakes, namely the 1994 Loma-Prieta, 1995 Hyogoken-Nambu and 1999 Chi-Chi earthquakes, can be estimated using the gradient of the linear relationships proposed between k_hcr and log(δ_h), or using well-established empirical formulae in conjunction with the analytical values of k_hcr. Four example walls are analysed to verify the proposed approach. Good agreement between the calculated and observed seismic displacement of the walls is obtained.