Numerical Study of MSE Wall Performance as Bridge Foundation

Mechanically Stabilized Earth (MSE) walls are increasingly used to support critical infrastructure, offering a cost-effective and adaptable alternative to traditional pile foundations and earth retaining structures, particularly in sites with challenging conditions or design requirements. This study focuses on the performance of a 7-m-high (23 ft) and 9-m-wide (30 ft) instrumented MSE retaining wall, constructed with a shallow foundation within it, to support a bridge deck. A two-dimensional (2D) numerical modeling of the wall’s behavior was carried out using the linear-elastic model with Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion to validate the measured data and predict its performance. The modeling accounted for the sequence of construction, including excavation, construction of selected backfill in lifts, reinforcement placements, wall installation, and load application. The predicted pressure and settlement values were found to be within 5% of the field-measured values while using secant modulus, Poisson’s ratio, and other soil properties as the key parameters for calibration.