Seismic performance of geosynthetic-reinforced retaining walls: Experimental tests vs numerical predictions

In seismic areas geosynthetic-reinforced soil walls (GRSWs) represent a suitable alternative to conventional concrete retaining structures. Despite pseudo-static procedures still represent the basis for seismic design, the need of shifting to displacement-based analyses is widely recognized. In this framework, the paper presents a modified sliding block model proposed for the evaluation of the seismic performance of GRSWs. The model accounts for the soil-reinforcements interaction under cyclic loading conditions and for the compliance of the earth-reinforced zone which, in turn, depend on the stiffness of both reinforced soil and reinforcements. The model capability has been checked through a comparison between numerical predictions and dynamic centrifuge test results. The comparison is presented and discussed in terms of time-histories and final permanent values of seismic-induced displacements.