Predicted Behavior of Two Centrifugal Model Soil Walls

Abstract

The finite element method is used to predict the behavior of two centrifugal reinforced soil wall models, one reinforced with a geogrid, the other with a nonwoven geotextile. Comparisons between the observed and calculated behavior indicate good agreement. Sensitivity studies were also performed in order to investigate some of the uncertainties adopted in the numerical modeling. These studies show that in the geotextile‐reinforced model the effect of the intermediate layers that form part of the wrap‐back facing is significant. In the geogrid‐reinforced model, it is found that the interface shear strength between the fill and the reinforcement is an important factor, but the effects of the fill/facing interface shear strength, facing panel continuity, and location of panel connections are relatively less important. The finite element analyses also provide detailed information relating to the soil/structure interaction in these models. The results presented in this paper are considered to be useful in advancing the understanding of the behavior of reinforced soil walls constructed with extensible reinforcement.