FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS OF REINFORCED EARTH WALLS

Y. Fattah, Mohammed; A. Yousif, Mustafa; D. Salim, Heba

	FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS OF REINFORCED EARTH WALLS
Journal of Engineering and Sustainable Development
Article 1, Volume 13, Issue 3, 2009, Pages 87-108
Authors
Mohammed Y. Fattah; Mustafa A. Yousif; Heba D. Salim
Abstract
Reinforced earth has been applied for different types of load supporting and retaining structures in more confidence throughout the world. In this study, the finite element method is implemented and used to analyze reinforced earth walls. The computer program SIGMA/W is used in the analysis of plane strain problems. Eight node isoparametric elements are used to model the soil while structural elements having nodes that match with the surrounding elements, are used to model the reinforcement material. A parametric study is carried out to investigatethe effect of different parameters on the general behaviour of reinforced earth walls. These parameters include: the height of the wall (H), length of reinforcement (L) and external loads (static and cyclic). Three different heights were tried (3, 5, 7) m and three value of load (q) were used (5, 20, 50) kN/m². It was found that the wall with small height (3 m) tends to translate and overturn about its foundation to the out, while the walls with greater heights ( 5 m), translate to the out, and the horizontal displacement increases with depth. It was also found that for all cases, the maximum horizontal displacement is about (0.005 m) for each 1 m height of the wall. It was also concluded that the distribution of lateral earth pressure in reinforced embankments is always non-linear for all heights and under different loads applied at different positions. For the wall of small height (3m), the maximum value of lateral pressure is at the base of the wall as in Coulomb's theory, while at greater heights (5 and 7) m, the maximum value takes place at about (0.1H) from the base of the wall

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