Dynamic Analysis of Cantilever Sheet Pile Walls in Liquefiable Soil Using FLAC2D

Abstract

AbstractRetaining walls are generally used to support backfill soil. However, collapse of retaining walls due to earthquake forces has been observed in the past decades. In the present study, numerical modeling of a cantilever sheet pile wall passing through both liquefiable and non-liquefiable soil is carried out using finite difference-based computer program FLAC2D. The numerical analysis has been executed in cohesionless soil under both liquefiable and non-liquefiable soil conditions. The acceleration-time history of 1940 El Centro and 1989 Loma Prieta earthquakes is considered as the input dynamic loadings. From the results obtained, it is observed that both displacement and bending moment of sheet pile wall are increased in liquefiable soil as compared to non-liquefiable soil due to significant reduction in shear strength and stiffness of the soil. The present results can be used for design of cantilever sheet pile wall passing through liquefiable soil in earthquake prone areas.KeywordsDynamic analysisFLAC2DCantilever sheet pile wallsLiquefiable soil