Analysis of soil-reinforcement interaction

The soil-reinforcement interaction problem was analyzed using the following three models.;Model (1). The finite element package ABAQUS was used to perform three dimensional, nonlinear analyses for the problem. These analyses showed that an accurate finite element representation of the problem should consider of the nonlinear and the dilation behavior of the soil, the nonlinear behavior of the reinforcement, the slip between the soil and the reinforcement, and the geometric nonlinearity of the problem. The finite element model was used to simulate different laboratory experiments and good agreements were found between simulated and experimental results. The finite element model was also used to perform a parametric study for the problem. The results provided an understanding of the soil-reinforcement interaction and the role of the different parameters on the developed forces in the reinforcement.;Model (2). The understanding of the soil-reinforcement interaction acquired from the use of model (1) was employed to develop a beam model which is a modification of the closed-form solution for beams on elastic foundations. The beam model computes the ultimate forces that can be carried by the reinforcement and it can be used to perform limit equilibrium analyses for reinforced soils. The results of the beam model were compared with the results of model (1) and good agreement was detected.;Model (3). A simplified finite element model for the problem was developed. The soil in this model was represented as nonlinear springs (Winkler type foundation) instead of a continuum as in model (1). This simplification makes model (3) computationally much less expansive than model (1). The simplified finite element model was used to analyze the different soil-reinforcement composites which were analyzed using models (1) and (2). The results of the above three models were in agreement. The simplified finite element model was also used to solve two practical problems: a soil reinforced by piles and a soil reinforced by vegetation roots. The results were in the same order of magnitude as those observed in field.