Ecological Retaining Wall for High‐Steep Slopes: A Case Study in the Ji‐Lai Expressway, Eastern China

Abstract

Research on the retaining structures for high-steep slopes is extremely significant because of its real-world applications and far-reaching implications. A flexible geocell-reinforced ecological retaining wall as a high-steep slope protection scheme was developed and applied to the slope protection project of the Ji-Lai Expressway by analyzing the reinforcement mechanism of the geocell used. The lateral displacement and Earth pressure distribution on the flexible ecological retaining wall applied to the high-steep slope were studied using finite element numerical simulations and verified using field experiments. Results reveal that the wall maximum horizontal displacement is 2/3 H away from the wall toe because of the replacement of the upper part of soil. There is an obvious bucking effect on the active Earth pressure around the stiffened site, and the flexible deformation of the retaining wall helped effectively release some of the Earth pressure. Consequently, the measured value is lower than the theoretical value. Through this case study, it is demonstrated that the flexible ecological retaining wall as a slope protection technology can be successfully applied to steep slopes with a height of more than 15 m. Moreover, it brings significant advantages for protecting the ecological environment and improving the highway landscape.

Study on the In Situ Test of the Treatment Effect for the Riverbank Soft Soil Subgrade in the Hetao Area

“…The engineering practice in the region shows that the reinforced subgrade constructed with suitable backfill soil on the hard shell of the soft ground surface could achieve an excellent control effect of postconstruction settlement [28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35]. However, the traditional subgrade reinforcement treatment schemes mostly use geogrids and geocells, and there is insufficient data on in situ reinforcement treatment for the soft soil subgrade in the Hetao area.…”

Research on the Ecological Protection of Coal Gangue Slope Based on a Polymer Curing Agent

“…e commonly used methods include soil spraying, plant fibre blankets, and planting belts. e key to the effect of slope protection by these methods is the normal growth of plants on the slope [15][16][17][18][19][20]. Coal gangue after spontaneous combustion shows weak acid and high heavy metal contents that are not conducive to plant growth.…”

Advancements and Applications of Life Cycle Assessment in Slope Treatment: A Comprehensive Review

“…The principle behind retaining-wall protection lies in the ability of the wall to resist the sliding forces generated by the loose soil, by utilizing its own weight and structural design. As a result, retaining walls are typically positioned at the leading edge and appropriate corners of slopes, which are prone to landslides due to the relatively loose nature of the slope soil [46]. Retaining walls come in various types, including anchor rod, cantilever, gravity, column plate, and soil-nailing walls.…”