Investigation of Using Higher Fines Backfill Materials in the Design and Construction of Mechanically Stabilized Earth Walls in Georgia

The main objectives of this research project are: (1) Examine the impact of gradation and fine content on the permeability, density, and shear strength of backfill materials, as well as soil-reinforcement interactions. (2) Conduct a cost comparison analysis between MSE wall design cases using higher fines backfill materials and current Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT)-approved materials, (3) Perform Finite Element (FE) simulations to determine MSE wall deformation for various backfill materials.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $335,000.00
• Contract Numbers:

  GDOT RP 25-11

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Georgia Department of Transportation

  One Georgia Center
  600 West Peachtree Street, NW
  Atlanta, GA  United States  30308
• Managing Organizations:

  Georgia Department of Transportation

  One Georgia Center
  600 West Peachtree Street, NW
  Atlanta, GA  United States  30308
• Project Managers:

  Watson, Demetra

• Performing Organizations:

  Kennesaw State University Research and Service Foundation

  1000 Chastain Rd NW
  Kennesaw, GA  United States 
• Principal Investigators:

  Kwon, Jayhyun

• Start Date: 20250801
• Expected Completion Date: 20280201
• Actual Completion Date: 0
• Subprogram: Advanced Materials
• Subprogram: Research

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aggregate gradation; Backfill soils; Deformation; Earth walls; Fines; Finite element method; Mechanically stabilized earth; Simulation; Soil structure interaction
• Geographic Terms: Georgia
• Subject Areas: Geotechnology; Highways; Materials;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01965065
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Georgia Department of Transportation
• Contract Numbers: GDOT RP 25-11
• Files: RIP, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Sep 9 2025 7:07AM