NUMERICAL MODELING OF REINFORCED SOIL SEGMENTAL WALL UNDER SURCHARGE LOADING

This paper outlines the finite element procedure for simulating the performance of a reinforced soil segmental (modular blocks) wall. Analyses were performed using a software code which is developed in FORTRAN and validated for reported case histories in the literature. The material properties of the wall like backfill, foundation, modular concrete fascia blocks and reinforcement were expressed using linear elastic models. A series of parametric studies was conducted to identify effects of reinforcement, stiffness and Poison’s ratio of backfill and foundation strata on the performance of the wall. Increased stiffness of backfill and foundation improves the performance of the wall by restraining the front face deformation. The design charts for deflections at top and bottom and also, height of rotation are developed in the current work by varying the stiffness of backfill and foundation. These charts are useful to the designer to choose appropriate backfill and also, to ascertain the suitability of available foundation for the construction of wall, considering codal provisions regarding deformation limits at the front face of the wall.