Abstract: Model tests in laboratory were conducted to investigate the behaviors of reinforced earth retaining wall of block face under the loading on the top of the retaining wall. In the model test, four conditions were simulated. The results show that, the vertical earth pressure on the upper part of retaining wall increases rapidly and the maximum vertical earth pressure of each layer moves from the lower part of the loading point to the face of wall. When the load at the top of wall exceeds 130 kPa, due to uneven settlement, the wall surface corresponding to fifth layer of reinforcement tends to shrink inward, the maximum horizontal displacement of wall surface is located in 7/10 of the wall height. In the whole loading stage, the overall strain value of the reinforcement does not increase significantly and the actual strain value of the reinforcement is much smaller than the maximum design strain of the reinforcement. Both increasing the number of the reinforced layers in the retaining wall and increasing the length of reinforcement can improve the performance of the retaining walls. However, the effect of increasing the number of the reinforced layers is better than that of increasing the length of reinforcement. The use of waste tire instead of unidirectional geogrid can effectively improve the overall performance of retaining walls, disperse additional stress caused by overloading, reduce the horizontal displacement of the face of wall and the vertical displacement at the top of the wall.

Key words: model test, reinforced earth retaining wall, earth pressure, deformation, settlement, waste tires