Selection of intensity measures for displacement prediction of geosynthetic reinforced soil walls under seismic loading

¹ Deltares, Boussinesqweg 1, 2629 HV Delft, the Netherlands
² Royal HaskoningDHV, 3818 EX Amersfoort, the Netherlands
³ George Mason University, 4400 University Dr, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA

^* Corresponding author: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Abstract

The accurate prediction of damage in Geosynthetic Reinforced Soil (GRS) walls is critical for the safe and cost-effective design of infrastructure systems, particularly in seismic or extreme loading environments. This paper investigates the selection of appropriate Intensity Measures (IMs) for predicting damage to GRS walls under various loading scenarios. A comprehensive analysis is conducted, comparing different IMs based on their correlation with wall performance indicators, including displacement, reinforcement strain, and facing deformations. The study explores the suitability of IMs such as peak ground acceleration (PGA), spectral acceleration, and Arias intensity, focusing on their ability to provide reliable predictions of wall damage under dynamic conditions. Numerical simulations are employed to model the behavior of GRS walls under seismic loads, and empirical data from previous tests is used to validate the results. The findings suggest that certain IMs, particularly those capturing energy dissipation and frequency content, offer enhanced predictive capability compared to traditional measures. This research provides valuable insights into the selection of IMs for improving the design and resilience of GRS walls, with implications for both the seismic and geotechnical engineering communities.