Deformation analysis of an unsaturated geosynthetic reinforced soil wall subjected to infiltration

Geosynthetic-reinforced soil walls are structures typically constructed with compacted and thus unsaturated soils. The use of local fine-grained soils as backfill material has been a common practice in view the significant cost reduction comparison to granular backfills. This is especially applicable tropical areas where lateritic found these scan exhibit outstanding geotechnical properties mainly under conditions. Thus, it possible optimize design construction geosynthetic-reinforced considering unsaturation, however not known what extent infiltration can reduce suction impairing safety structure. To address influence on behavior geosynthetic structures, full-scale geotextile-reinforced wall was subjected instrumented capture distribution moisture along reinforced zone, well reinforcements strains. paper presents discuss geotextile reinforcement acting capillary barrier coupled performance. Results demonstrate that advancement front more pronounced effect deformation changes water contents. Capillary barriers were occur retarding infiltration, but affecting overall performance average monitored values height, herein called “global suction”, be strictly related maximum strains behavior.