FINITE ELEMENT MODELLING OF THE HEXAGONAL WIRE MESH

摘要

This paper presents the results of Finite Element Method (FEM) modeling of double-twisted steel hexagonal wire mesh used to construct gabion cages. Gabion cages, filled with soil (usually rock particles) are commonly used in civil engineering (for example in order to form a retaining wall). Static tensile tests are modeled and the obtained force - displacements curves are compared with the laboratory test results (known from literature). Good accordance between numerical and laboratory test results is observed. Three different material models for single wire and double twist are tested. Special attention is paid to double-twist modelling. Simulations of the damaged mesh are also performed, strength and stiffness reduction is analyzed. Anisotropic membrane model for mesh is proposed and calibrated. Parameters for homogenized Coulomb - Mohr media for gabion (filling and mesh) are estimated. Such homogenized Coulomb - Mohr model could be used in engineering practice to model behaviour of real gabion structures.