Abstract This study compared the global stability of Mechanically Stabilized Earth walls with sustainable backfills using the Limit Equilibrium Method (LEM) and Finite Element Method (FEM). A total of 120 models were analyzed, examining backfill type (sand, recycled concrete aggregate, and reclaimed asphalt pavement), reinforcement type, wall height (2–8 m), length-to-height ratio, and retained slope angle. Recycled concrete aggregate provided comparable stability to sand (FS ≥ 1.5), while reclaimed asphalt pavement often failed minimum requirements in walls over 6 m or with steep slopes. In LEM analyses, geogrids provided higher factors of safety, achieving up to 6.6% improvement in critical conditions. FEM results showed geogrids reduced lateral displacements and earth pressures by 5–6% compared to geotextiles. Both methods showed strong agreement (FS difference 1.0) and hybrid stabilization were recommended.
A Thu, study studied this question.