Field test on engineering performance of high reinforced soil slopes in high altitude areas

Abstract

Reinforced soil slopes constructed in high altitude regions may face structural damage due to freeze-thaw cycles, material aging, and seismic activity. Therefore, it is crucial to conduct on-site monitoring of reinforced soil slopes during construction and service in high altitude areas to ensure the safety and stability of the project. A field test was conducted on a newly constructed 40-meter-high geogrid-reinforced soil slope in Qamdo, Xizang. The internal and external temperature, slope deformation, top settlement, vertical earth pressure and geogrid strain distribution of the reinforced soil high slope constructed in high altitude areas were analyzed. The engineering performance of the reinforced soil high slope in high altitude areas was discussed. The test results show that the internal temperature of the reinforced soil slope varies with the change of ambient temperature, with the boundary area of the slope being particularly sensitive to temperature changes. The lateral displacement of the slope surface increases sharply during construction and then gradually stabilizes, with the maximum lateral displacement occurring on the lowest slope surface, and the cumulative displacement is about 1.11% of the slope height. The slope surface settlement stabilizes graduall after construction, with the maximum incremental settlement of approximately 50 mm observed six months post-construction. Due to the construction of the upper substation and the increase of mechanical loads, the settlement of the slope top is still gradually increasing. The vertical earth pressure within the slope decreases gradually with increasing slope height, and along the direction of geogrid placement, it first increases and then decreases. The strain in the geogrid decreases gradually along the direction of geogrid placement and with increasing slope height.

Keywords

geogrid / reinforced soil slope / high altitude areas / field test / engineering performance