Influence factors for seismic performance of bridge abutment with geosythetic-reinforced soil (GRS)

Currently, most researches on the seismic performance of bridge abutment with geosythetic-reinforced soil (GRS) and the related influence factors focuses on the numerical analysis, among which the connecting pattern between the reinforcement and the facing system is rarely studied. To solve this issue, a series of shaking table tests are performed to investigate the seismic behaviors of bridge abutment with GRS under horizontal earthquakes with special attention paid on the reinforcement conditions including spacing, length, stiffness and connecting patterns. According to the test results, it is found that the acceleration response and the vertical earth pressure under the load-bearing area are scarcely influenced by the reinforcement conditions as mentioned above. The lateral displacement of the facing and the tensile strain of the reinforcement are obviously affected by the reinforcement spacing, e.g., significant increases in the lateral displacement of facing and tensile strain of reinforcement are noticed under a doubled reinforcement spacing. On the other hand, the length and stiffness of reinforcement have small effects on the lateral displacement of facing as well as the tensile strain of reinforcement. A marked effect is observed in the distribution of the lateral deformation of facing for different connecting patterns between the reinforcement and the facing system. In addition, the influences caused to the lateral earth pressure behind the facing are found to be small. To conclude, among the evaluated factors, a greater influence is observed in the spacing of reinforcement and the connection pattern of reinforcement-facing system on the seismic performance of the bridge abutment with GRS.