Finite Element Modeling of a Mechanically Stabilized Earth Trial Wall

Abstract

Polymer geogrid reinforced soil retaining walls have become commonplace, with routine design generally carried out by limiting equilibrium methods. Finite element analysis (FEA) is becoming more widely used to assess the likely deformation behavior of these structures, although in many cases such analyses over-predict deformation compared with monitored structures. Back-analysis of unit tests and instrumented walls improves the techniques and models used in FEA to represent the soil fill, reinforcement and composite behavior caused by the stabilization effect of the geogrid apertures on the soil particles. This composite behavior is most representatively modeled as enhanced soil shear strength. The back-analysis of two test cases provides valuable insight into the benefits of this approach. In the first case, a unit cell was set up such that one side could yield thereby reaching the active earth pressure state. Using FEA a test without geogrid was modeled to help establish appropriate soil parameters. These parameters were then used to back-analyze a test with geogrid present. Simply using the tensile properties of the geogrid over-predicted the yield pressure but using an enhanced soil shear strength gave a satisfactory comparison with the measured result. In the second case a trial retaining wall was back-analyzed to investigate both deformation and failure, the failure induced by cutting the geogrid after construction using heated wires. The closest fit to the actual deformation and failure behavior was provided by using enhanced fill shear strength.