A state-of-the-art review of geosynthetic-reinforced slopes

Abstract

Geosynthetic-reinforced slopes are generally compacted fill embankments that incorporate geosynthetic layers as tensile reinforcement to enhance stability. The reinforcement holds together the soil mass from both sides of the failure surface, thus increasing the factor of safety of the existing slope. Several analytical, numerical and experimental research works, and many case studies on geosynthetic-reinforced slopes have been reported in literature; however, no attempt has been made in recent years to give an insight into such slopes and to present an overview of these developments. This paper presents a comprehensive overview of geosynthetic-reinforced slopes, including suitability of geosynthetics, modes of failure, methods of slope stability analysis and design, model studies, and typical slope stabilization methods and some specific recommendations. The readers, especially students and practicing engineers, will find the concepts presented in this paper very useful.