A finite element analysis for the stability of drystone masonry retaining walls

The stability of a drystone retaining wall involves large plastic strain, interactions between the wall, backfill and base, the placement process of backfill and the behaviour of joints within a wall. A finite element analysis method for modelling the behaviour of a drystone wall using the finite element code VISAGE is described. The results obtained were compared with those from field trials and discrete element analysis. In the finite element analyses, the same critical stable height was obtained by using an equivalent continuum model for the wall and a joint element model. The deformation behaviour obtained using the joint element model was closer to that observed in the field trials and the discrete element analysis than that obtained using an equivalent continuum model.