The Earthquake Engineering Online Archive

Design of geosynthetically reinforced embankments using decomposed granite as backfill material

Zornberg, Jorge G.; Sitar, Nicholas; Mitchell, James Kenneth

UCB/GT-95-02, University of California, Berkeley, Geotechnical Engineering, Final summary report on research funded by the California Department of Transportation. Award No. RTA-65T128, 1995-12, PDF (6 MB)

This report presents a summary of the results from experiments using geosynthetic reinforcements in construction of embankments with decomposed granite backfill. Results from triaxial tests on specimens from the Shasta Bally Batholith show that the friction angle of compacted decomposed granite decreases significantly with increasing stress level. The results of a centrifuge study on the performance of geosynthetically reinforced embankments at failure validate current design practices. However, refinements to current design procedures are suggested as appropriate based on the findings of the centrifuge study. Cost evaluation of the construction of geosynthetically reinforced embankments is presented, and a case history of a permanent reinforced embankment built using decomposed granite as backfill material is described.

Available online: http://library.eerc.berkeley.edu/documents/GEOTECH/UCB-GT-95-02.pdf