Stability of geosynthetic-reinforced soil above a cavity

Abstract Geosynthetic-reinforced soils have been used for bridging cavities. At present there is no generally accepted method for analyzing the stability of soil-geosynthetic-cavity systems. This paper presents methods of analysis as well as parameter interrelationships for the determination of reinforced soil layers thickness and anchor length. Four different methods of layer thickness analysis are presented: they are Giroud's method, the multi-layer method, ultimate strength method and strain-dependent strength method. Of these four methods, the strain-dependent strength method is more rational and is adopted for development of interrelations among parameters having a dominant effect on the stability of a reinforced soil layer overlying a cavity. The parameter interrelations are presented graphically. These graphs are useful not only for the determination of layer thickness and anchor length, but also for evaluating the stability of existing soil-geosynthetic-cavity systems.