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 (delta(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(delta(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.