Influences of 3D Effects, Wall Deflection Process and Wall Deflection Mode in Retaining Wall Problems

Abstract

Two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) model tests and the corresponding elastoplastic finite element analyses were carried out to investigate the influences of 3D effects, wall deflection process and wall deflection mode on the earth pressures and the ground movements in retaining wall problems. Aluminum rod mass were used in 2D model tests, and alumina balls were used in 3D model tests. The stress-strain behavior of these materials is similar to that of dense sands with positive dilatancy. In the finite element analyses, a recently developed elastoplastic constitutive model, named subloading t ij model, were used. This model can describe typical stress deformation and strength characteristics of soils such as the influence of intermediate principal stress, the stress path dependency of plastic flow and the influence of density and/or confining pressure properly. The test results show that the earth pressures on the retaining wall in 3D condition are much smaller than those in 2D condition, and these distributions of earth pressure are more influenced by the wall deflection process than by the wall deflection mode. Observed surface settlements at the backfill just behind the wall in 3D condition are larger than those in 2D condition, but 3D surface settlements occur more locally. These 2D and 3D surface settlements are influenced by the wall deflection process more than the wall deflection mode. However, at the same wall deflection process and the same wall deflection mode, there is not much difference in the shapes of the earth pressure distributions and the surface settlement troughs between 2D and 3D conditions. These differences and similarities of the earth pressures and the surface settlements are simulated not only qualitatively but also quantitatively in the analyses using the above constitutive model.