Reinforced Soil Structures Volume I. Design and Construction Guidelines

This report presents comprehensive guidelines for evaluating and using soil reinforcement techniques in the construction of retaining walls, embankment slopes, and natural or cut slopes. A variety of available systems for reinforced soil including in-situ soil nailing are described from information assembled from published literature and manufacturers' catalogs. Detailed guidelines are given for design of reinforced soil structures with inextensible and extensible reinforcements and soil nailing. Design examples are included. These guidelines were developed from technical review of extensive laboratory model tests, small and large scale centrifuge tests, finite element numerical studies and full scale field tests on eight 20-foot high walls and four 25-foot high sloping embankments. The manual contains descriptions of construction procedures, reinforced soil structures, instrumentation and specifications for reinforced soil structures.