Numerical Modeling of Narrow MSE Walls with Extensible Reinforcements; Technical rept. (Fall 2005 - Fall 2007)

摘要

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is experiencing wider use of Mechanically Stabilized Earth (MSE) Walls placed adjacent to an existing stable wall. In numerous cases, the space (width) available for the new wall is less than the width established in current guidelines for stand-alone MSE walls. This wall system combining an existing stable wall and a new MSE wall with constrained space is referred as a narrow MSE wall system. Although walls have already been designed and constructed for such applications, the actual mechanism of the narrow MSE wall system is still unclear. Accordingly, the current research project was undertaken. A detailed review of relevant literature has been complied and design considerations have been proposed and presented in the companion project report. This report presents a series of numerical analyses of narrow MSE wall systems. The numerical models were conducted using finite element and limit equilibrium methods. Both models were validated by the results of centrifuge testing. The proposed procedure of numerical modeling narrow MSE wall system serves as a basis of practical applications. Furthermore, a series of parametric studies was performed based on the validity of the calibrated numerical models. The behaviors and mechanics of the narrow MSE wall systems were investigated and studied through the parametric studies. The results of parametric studies allow us to define the actual location of failure surface in a narrow MSE wall and to understand the mechanism causing the external failure when wall aspect ratio below 0.25.