INVESTIGATION OF THE GEOTECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF CEMENT STABILIZED SAND FOR BACKFILLING BEHIND RETAINING WALLS

Abstract

ABSTRACT The geotechnical characteristics of the used backfill materials behind retaining walls influentially govern the intensity of the created active lateral earth pressure as it could be considered the dominant load acting on these walls. Sometimes walls of considerable height, lack the ability to sustain adequate wall stability. In such a case, the commonly examined solution is to either increase the wall and foundation dimensions or use additional resisting elements (i.e. keys, shelves or wings). Nevertheless, discrete units (i.e. sand bags, foam blocks or gabions) and cementitious materials are different backfilling techniques deemed to reduce the lateral earth pressure acting on the retaining walls.