Full-scale tests on soilbag-constructed retaining walls with a panel

Abstract

In this study, full-scale tests were conducted on soilbag-constructed retaining walls (SBWs) with panels to analyse the effects of the fixed forms of the panels on the deformation and lateral earth pressures of the wall. The results show that a panel in front of an SBW affects its performance. The SBWs with fixed panels deformed laterally in a cantilever-like manner, while the SBWs with unfixed panels deformed laterally in a rigid-wall-like manner. The earth pressures acting on the fixed panel were found to be larger than those acting on the unfixed panel. The results of the full-scale tests of the panel and non-panel SBWs were compared to analyse the effects of the panel on the behaviour of the wall, and it was found that their resulting earth pressures were different, while the performance of the SBW with the unfixed panel was similar to that of the SBW without a panel. This indicates that the inclusion of an unfixed panel can make full use of the potential for an SBW to reduce the earth pressures.