FINITE ELEMENT MODELING OF MECHANICALLY STABILIZED EARTH WALLS BUILT WITH WELDED WIRE WALL PANELS

Abstract

In this paper, a finite element modeling of Mechanically Stabilized Earth (MSE) walls using welded wire wall panels was performed. The implementation of finite element modeling and analysis proved to be quite efficient in simulating the three-dimensional behavior of wall panels that are a part of MSE walls. The comprehensive finite element model included defined concrete and steel material properties in order to present both the realistic behaviors of each component in the model as well as better facilitating and increasing the accuracy of the simulation of numerous finite element analysis (FEA) cases. FEA was employed to simulate welded wire wall panels under the applied loads and to consider varying parameters of the model. The standard finite element tool (Abaqus) was used to conduct the analysis. Demonstrated behaviors and the model’s performance were observed throughout the implementation of soil pressure and pullout loads on an anchorage system. The captured results were used to prove that the possibility of implementation of 3D panels as MSE wall facings, and to determine the mode of failure of panels, and to establish a sufficient anchorage system.