Mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) by using geosynthetic tension members is a well-known technique for retaining structures. The design and its execution is state of the art. The increasing number of executed structures worldwide is followed by an increasing number of reported failures. Surprisingly the number of front element failures takes a high percentage in these reports. Theoretically the forces taken into consideration in the design are significantly higher compared to real measured ones – so why do front elements fail and how can it be avoided?
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