Seismic performances of geogrid-wrapped tire-faced retaining walls: influence of geogrid wrapping structures and binding properties

Abstract

To promote the effective utilization of waste tires and facilitate the application of tire-faced retaining walls in high-intensity seismic regions, a geogrid-wrapped tire-faced retaining wall is proposed. Geogrid wrapping structures and binding properties between tires significantly influence the seismic performance of geogrid-wrapped tire-faced retaining walls. Through the shaking table test, the acceleration of the wall and backfill, the lateral wall displacement, the dynamic earth pressure and the strain of the geogrid are monitored. The influencing factors of geogrid-wrapping types, binding modes, wrapping thickness and strength of binding materials on the seismic performance of the geogrid-wrapped tire-faced retaining walls was analyzed. Test results show When the seismic intensity is low (a_max < 0.3 g), the lateral displacement of the tire-faced retaining wall reinforced using a non-folded and fully-bound method is smaller than that of a geogrid-reinforced concrete panel retaining wall. The relationship between the average dynamic strain of geogrid and the corresponding local deformation of the same height of the wall was established, revealing the key control factors affecting seismic deformations, forming a displacement-based design method to meet the requirements of different seismic defenses, and the optimal seismic connection under different seismic intensities was proposed, which will provide scientific basis for engineering applications. This study provides a new structural form and a displacement-based design approach for geogrid-wrapped tire-faced retaining walls, contributing to both the seismic design of reinforced soil structures and the sustainable reuse of waste tires in geotechnical engineering.