Durability of Galvanized Soil Reinforcement: More Than 30 Years of Experience with Mechanically Stabilized Earth
AASHTO promulgated specifications for the design of mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) walls that define the characteristics of both the galvanized steel reinforcements and the backfill soils to be used in MSE wall construction. Although a few cases of poor performance have been documented, these occurrences are always correlated with a corrosive environment attributed to backfill or to site conditions that do not conform to the current design specifications. Data demonstrate that when good design and construction practices, as prescribed by AASHTO, are followed, the performance of metallic reinforcements exceeds current expectations for service life performance. The data also demonstrate that the current AASHTO metal loss model is unnecessarily conservative and that the AASHTO specifications should be revised to reflect documented in situ performance. To support this conclusion, the performance of galvanized steel reinforcements documented from nearly 150 observations distributed among 75 different sites throughout the United States and Europe are described, and these data are used as a basis to evaluate the metal loss model in the current AASHTO specifications.
- Record URL:
- Summary URL:
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Availability:
- Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://www.trb.org/Main/Public/Blurbs/158753.aspx
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Authors:
- Gladstone, Robert A
- Anderson, Peter L
- Fishman, Kenneth L
- Withiam, James L
- Publication Date: 2006
Language
- English
Media Info
- Media Type: Print
- Features: Figures; References; Tables;
- Pagination: pp 49-59
- Monograph Title: Soil Mechanics 2006
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Serial:
- Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board
- Issue Number: 1975
- Publisher: Transportation Research Board
- ISSN: 0361-1981
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Durability; Galvanic corrosion; Galvanized metals; Mechanical engineering; Mechanically stabilized earth; Retaining walls; Service life; Soil stabilization; Specifications
- Uncontrolled Terms: Metal loss
- Geographic Terms: Europe; United States
- Subject Areas: Design; Geotechnology; Highways; I42: Soil Mechanics;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 01024906
- Record Type: Publication
- ISBN: 0309099846
- Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
- Created Date: May 31 2006 7:55AM