Numerical Analysis of Geocell Reinforced Square Shallow Horizontal Plate Anchor

Abstract

This paper presents the uplift behavior of horizontal square anchor in cohesionless soil reinforced with or without geocell in cohesionless soil using three dimensional analyses. The effects of embedded depth ( $$H$$ ), geocell width ( $$B_{g}$$ ), geocell height ( $$h$$ ), geocell pocket size ( $$a$$ ), distance from surface of plate anchor to bottom of geocell ( $$U$$ ), plate anchor width ( $$B$$ ), geocell material stiffness ( $$K$$ ), and relative density of cohesionless soil ( $$D_{r}$$ ) on the dimensionless breakout factor ( $$F_{q}$$ ) and uplift capacity of horizontal plate anchor ( $$Q_{ult}$$ ) were investigated numerically using PLAXIS 3D finite element software with Hardening Soil Model (HSM). The influence of these parameters on the dimensionless breakout factor was discussed and optimum design parameters ( $$B,\frac{{B_{g} }}{B},\frac{h}{B},\frac{a}{B},\frac{U}{B},K$$ ) were determined. Additionally, the results of three dimensional numerical analysis confirmed with those of laboratory indicate that the proposed model is able to capture the uplift load–displacement behavior of geocell reinforced square shallow horizontal plate anchor system in cohesionless soil.