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A geosynthetic reinforced segmental retaining wall was collapsed during a monsoon season in Korea, three months after the completion of wall construction. The circular type global slope failure was the dominant failure mode. The as-built design was examined for its appropriateness in meeting the current design requirements and the global slope stability. A comprehensive stress-pore pressure-coupled finite-element analysis was additionally conducted with due consideration of both positive and negative pore pressures in saturated and unsaturated zones. A number of relevant tests were also carried out on the backfill and the reinforcement collected from the site. The investigation revealed among other things that the inappropriate design and the low-quality backfill were mainly responsible for the wall failure, although the primary triggering factor was the rainfall infiltration. The results of the stress-pore pressure-coupled finite-element analysis provided sound evidences as to the wall performance over the rainfall period, supporting the field observation. Practical implications of the findings from this study are also discussed in view of reinforced wall design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geotechnical and hydrogeological investigations were conducted as a basis for methods to conserve the Muryong Royal Tomb, one of the most significant Korean cultural properties. First, long-term monitoring of wall-structure movement using the tilt-meter system examined the structural stability of the tomb. Second, an artificial recharge test was performed to analyze the major seepage pathway observed inside the tomb during the rainy season. Measured movements of the wall structure indicate that the tomb has a structural safety problem, caused by a front chamber constructed following excavation. The recharge test and its numerical simulations showed that the major seepage source is the downward flow of water in the unsaturated zone through cracks in the protective layer above the tomb. A plan conservation suggests refilling the front chamber of the tomb to reestablish the original state prior to excavation and to reinforce the protective layer by an effective waterproof material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]