UTC 2022 Funding - Cycle 2 Research Projects

Project Number: CY2-LTU-03
Project Title: Design Criteria for Highway Embankments Reinforced with Geosynthetic Material Exposed to Localized Wave Forces
Performing Institution: Louisiana Tech University
Principal Investigator: Jay X. Wang
Proposed Start and End Date: 10/01/2024 to 09/30/2025
Project Description: Unlike the designs of regular highway embankments or levees, the crest level of a coastal highway embankment must be determined by seriously considering the sea level rising. In the design of a coastal highway embankment, soil fills at different elevations are reinforced with geosynthetic reinforcement. To design effective and reliable geosynthetic reinforcement (tensile force calculation, determination of the reinforcement lengths and vertical spacings, etc.), it is imperative to modify the existing design methods. A coastal highway embankment is typically subjected to strong hydro-dynamic wave pressures. Therefore, during the design process, maximum hydro-dynamic wave pressures consistent with a storm/hurricane with a design return period must be applied to the embankment.

This research aims to develop geometrical and structural design criteria of highway embankment in coastal areas. The design should consider the varying hydrodynamics of the coastal area, including wave height, wave period, and tidal fluctuations. The research will be focused on: (1) Determinations of wave height, embankment crest elevation and freeboard; (2) Reinforcement design of the geosynthetic materials at the bottom of embankment and in the embankment fills of different layers.
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