Repair, Evaluation, Maintenance, and Rehabilitation Research Program: Methods of Evaluating the Stability and Safety of Gravity Earth Retaining Structures Founded on Rock.

摘要

The objective of this study was to investigate the accuracy of the procedures employed in the conventional equilibrium method of analysis of gravity earth retaining structures founded on rock, using the finite element method of analysis. This study was initiated when a number of existing large retaining structures at various navigation lock sites in the United States that showed no signs of instability or substandard performance failed to meet the criteria currently used for design of new structures. The results of the following load analyses show that when the loss of contact along the base of a wall is modeled in the finite element analysis, the calculated values of effective base contact area and maximum contact pressure are somewhat larger than those calculated using conventional equilibrium analyses. The mobilized base friction angle values calculated using the two methods are in precise agreement. Analysis, Retaining walls, Stability, Earth pressures, Rock foundation, Finite element, Soil-structure interaction.