Towards A Resilient Design: L-shaped Barrier-impact Load Modelling On Reinforced Soil Wall Structures

It has always been a challenge to model the effect of crash barrier loadings on Reinforced Soil Wall (R.S.W.) structures due to the complexity of their design and the manner in which the load is transferred through each soil reinforcement layer of the R.S.W. structure. Current design practices in Australia rely heavily on the designers experience and the individual knowledge the impact crash barrier loadings have on the R.S.W. structure. Each designer has an individual approach to the same problem. Relevant codes do not adequately cover this issue and leave it up to the designer‟s experience. This paper outlines and discusses a design beyond the current codes and how codes and standards can be enhanced. There is a clear necessity to provide a systematic, well proven and tested approach to the manner in which the loading on the R.S.W. structure from the crash barrier is interpreted, modelled and analysed.