Reliability-Based Design of Reinforced Earth Retaining Walls

Abstract

Reliability of an earth structure can be assessed from the knowledge of the governing probability distribution and its related statistical parameters, namely, the mean and variance. In this study, the mean and variance for the design parameters (width and length of the reinforcing ties) of reinforced earth retaining walls supporting sandy soils are determined using the first-order Taylor series approximation. Design diagrams that enable estimation of both mean and variance also are developed to avoid extensive computations that involve partial differentiation. Errors associated with truncating second-order terms are also evaluated. It is found that for soils with moderately variable physical parameters, the first-order approximation is adequate for estimating both the mean and variance.