Numerical analysis of the response of reinforced soils to direct shearing: Part 2

Abstract

AbstractA soil‐reinforcement load transfer model was developed by the authors1 to simulate the response of the reinforced soil material to triaxial compression and direct shearing. This paper presents the application of the proposed model for the numerical analysis of direct shear tests on sand samples reinforced with different types of tension resisting reinforcements. A parametric study is conducted to evaluate the effect of the mechanical characteristics and dilatancy properties of the soil, extensibility (elastic modulus) of the reinforcements, and their inclination with respect to the failure surface on the response of the reinforced soil material to direct shearing. An attempt is made to verify the proposed model by comparing numerical test simulations with experimental results reported by Jewell,2 and Gray and Ohashi.3 Comparisons of predicted and experimental results illustrate that the model can provide adequate simulations of the response of the reinforced soil material to shearing. In particular, it allows an evaluation of the effect of soil dilatancy (or contractancy), and extensibility of the reinforcement on tension forces generated in inclusions during shearing.