INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY MADRAS, CHENNAI

Department of Civil Engineering

CE 5430 Geotechnical Engg. Design Studio
Design Problem: Design of Mechanically Stabilized Earth (MSE) Walls
Note: Make suitable assumptions wherever necessary.

1. A 6 m-high goetextile wall is required to support a coarse-grained backfill with sat = 17.5 kN/m3 and
'cs = 29. The foundation (base) soil is a clay with sat = 18 kN/m3, p = 28, su = 72 kPa, and 'b =
16. The ultimate strength of the geotextile is 45 kN/m and the soilgeotextile interface friction angle
is 20. The permanent surcharge is 15 kPa. Determine the spacing and length of geotextile required for
stability. Assume (FS)ID = 1.5, (FS)CR = 2, (FS)CD = 1.3, (FS)BD = 1.3, (FS)sp = 1.3, (FS)t = 1.3, (FS)T =
1.5, and (FS)B = 3.
2. A section of an approach to a bridge is shown in Fig. 1. The sides of the approach are to be supported
using MSE walls with 1 m l m facing panels. Steel ties of width 300 mm are available. Determine
the length and thickness of the ties required for stability. The design life is 50 years and the rate of
corrosion is 0.025 mm/yr. The yield strength is 2.5 105 kPa. Assume (FS)tr = 3, (FS)T = 1.5, (FS)t =
1.3, and (FS)B = 3.

Fig. 1
3. A roadway is to be constructed near an existing slope. The engineer decided to use an MSE wall, as
shown in Fig. 2. With a surcharge load of 15 kPa (guard rail + pavement + construction), compare
designs using:
(a) 4-mm-thick, 50-mm-wide galvanized steel ties; fy = 450 MPa, corrosion rate = 0.025 mm/yr, design
life = 75 years, soiltie interface friction = 20 . Assume (FS)tr = 3, (FS)T = 1.5, (FS)t = 1.3 and (FS)B
= 3.
(b) Wide-width geotextile of ultimate yield strength 58.5 kN/m and soilgeotextile interface friction =
20. Assume (FS)ID = 1.5, (FS)CR = 2, (FS)CD = 1.3, (FS)BD = 1.3, (FS)sp = 1.3, (FS)t = 1.3, (FS)T = 1.5
and (FS)B = 3.

Fig. 2