Seismic design of geosynthetic reinforced slopes

The aim of the present work is to define the general conditions under which a geosynthetic reinforcement is able to guarantee, in absence of other stabilization methods, the seismic safety of natural and artificial slopes. The reinforced slope behaviour is presented in terms of permanent induced displacements for different failure modes of an overconsolidated clay in a second seismic Italian region. The main involved parameters are: the unstable ground thickness; the piezometric level; the average slope inclination; the geosynthetic tensile strength. Local amplification effects are moreover considered. The obtained numerical results, visualized in a series of tables and diagrams, are interpreted to define a seismic design procedure for geosynthetic slope stabilization which may be used in not infrequent similar geotechnical conditions; on the other side different mechanical soil properties may request some attention in the traditional slope analysis steps, but they don't change the aim of the design procedure here presented.