Calibration and validation of design methods for geosynthetic-reinforced retaining structures using partial factors

The technique for constructing geosynthetic-reinforced soil retaining struc tures is now in widespread use. Since its first use in the late 1960s, cons truction processes have become more technologically advanced, and the numbe r of alternatives has reduced, with most of the construction techniques bei ng standardised. This type of reinforced structure has been in use for near ly 30 years, during which time its reliability has been proved. At the same time, work is in progress to standardise the design of these structures us ing the new international format of Ultimate Limit States and Serviceabilit y Limit States calculations and associated partial factors. This study pres ents the procedure currently being prepared for the future standard in Fran ce. First, a preliminary parametric calibration based on typical structure profiles is described, comparing different stability calculation methods an d different partial factor combinations. Second, design validation of instr umented case histories is performed.