Seismic internal stability assessment of geosynthetic reinforced earth retaining wall in cohesive soil using limit analysis

Hicham Alhajj Chehade,Fadi Hage Chehade,Daniel Dias,Orianne Jenck,Marwan Sadek,F Hage Chehade

doi:10.1051/matecconf/201928102008

Abstract

Assessment of internal seismic stability of geosynthetic reinforced cohesive soil retaining walls with likelihood for developing cracks in the failure mechanism is typically done with the limit equilibrium method. However, in this paper, the kinematic theorem of limit analysis combined with the discretization method are used to implement the crack formation in the collapse mechanism in the internal seismic assessment of geosynthetic reinforced soil retaining walls within the framework of the pseudo-static approach. The presence of the crack leads to an increase of the required reinforcement strength that prevent the failure of the structure.

Highlights

Reinforced soil retaining walls, by being both heavy and flexible, demonstrate its effectiveness performance even in seismically active areas [1]
The investigation of the seismic stability of reinforced soil retaining structures can be grouped into the numerical finite elements and finite differences https://doi.org/10.10 51/matecconf /2019281020 08 methods, the experimental methods, the limit equilibrium methods and the limit analysis
A research investigation using the kinematic approach of limit analysis combined with the discretization method was carried out to assess the seismic stability of Geosynthetic reinforced earth retaining wall in cohesive soils

Summary

INTRODUCTION

Reinforced soil retaining walls, by being both heavy and flexible, demonstrate its effectiveness performance even in seismically active areas [1]. This technique is used more frequently than their conventional counterparts due to its cost effectiveness. Abd and Utili [2017] first considered existing cracks referred as climate cracks, as well as tension crack formation as a part of the failure mechanism for geosynthetic reinforced slopes under static condition using the kinematic theorem of limit analysis. A research investigation using the kinematic approach of limit analysis combined with the discretization method was carried out to assess the seismic stability of Geosynthetic reinforced earth retaining wall in cohesive soils. The influence of cracks on the seismic stability of Geosynthetic reinforced soil retaining wall is investigated

Methodology

Generation of the discretized failure mechanism

Maximum depth of a vertical crack in soil

Kinematic stability analysis with pseudo static approach

Conclusion