Sensitivity Analysis of Distress Influence Factors on Steel-Plastic Compound Reinforced Retaining Wall

Abstract

Abstract Based on the distress survey of the existing reinforced retaining wall in Harbin, this article summarizes the main forms of distresses. Taking the section with typical distresses as an example, the influences of fill properties, fill void, ribbon fracture, seepage, traffic load, and other factors on the horizontal deflection and axial force were analyzed by the finite element (FE) method. Causes of distresses of the reinforced retaining wall were systematically studied. Results showed that soil pressure, traffic load, seepage, and the combined action of many other factors are the main causes of retaining wall distresses. The sensitivity factors of horizontal displacement of a reinforced retaining wall are the cohesion and internal friction angle of filling soil. Moisture caused essentially by pavement cracks and seepage can result in the decrease of cohesion and internal friction angle, which are the important factors of outward-dipping deformation. Ribbon fracture, filling soil void, and traffic overload are the important factors leading to horizontal deformation of a retaining wall. According to the orthogonal experiment design, cohesion is the most significant factor for the horizontal deformation of a retaining wall, followed by the internal friction angle; the elastic modulus of foundation and the rest of the factors are not significant, which is consistent with the simulation result of the range analysis. The FE models show good predictability and are well validated by field tests and the orthogonal experiment. These models appear to work for similar reinforced retaining walls.