Model Test and Numerical Simulation Research of Reinforced Soil Retaining Walls under Cyclic Loads

Abstract

The stress diffusion characteristics of reinforced soil retaining walls (RSW) with concrete-block panels under cyclic loads are studied. The distribution of the vertical dynamic earth pressure caused by an external load and the analysis of stress diffusion angles were studied using a model test and the numerical simulation model of the reinforced soil retaining wall was established to analyze the change in the stress diffusion angle. We then changed the parameters to investigate the influencing factors of the stress diffusion characteristics. The results showed that: the average value of the peak vertical dynamic earth pressure caused by an external load at the loading position of the RSW was a nonlinear distribution, decaying from top to bottom and increasing with the increase in the loading amplitude, while the change in the loading frequency number of loading cycles had no obvious rule. The results of model test and numerical simulation agree with each other. The diffusion angle of the stress caused by the external load of the reinforced body was basically between 50° and 65° in the range from 1.8 m to 1.2 m, the diffusion angle at the top was slightly larger than the middle, and the diffusion angle away from the wall was larger than the diffusion angle close to the wall. The main factors affecting the stress diffusion in reinforced soil retaining walls are the coefficient of reinforcement of the soil and the dynamic stress amplitude; the stress diffusion angle increased with an increase in the coefficient of the reinforcement of the soil and the dynamic stress amplitude. The conclusion of this paper can provide a reference for the design of reinforced soil structures.