Numerical Study of the Influence of the Interaction Distance, the Polymeric Strips Pre-Tensioning, and the Soil–Polymeric Interaction on the Performance of Back-to-Back Reinforced Soil Walls
This study describes the results of a series of 2D finite element method (FEM) numerical models of 6 m high back-to-back reinforced soil walls using the geotechnical software PLAXIS. These structures are used to support embankments, especially for bridge abutment approaches. The quantitative influen...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-02-01
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| Series: | Infrastructures |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2412-3811/7/2/22 |
| _version_ | 1797479266285256704 |
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| author | Abdelaziz Brouthen Mohamed Nabil Houhou Ivan Puig Damians |
| author_facet | Abdelaziz Brouthen Mohamed Nabil Houhou Ivan Puig Damians |
| author_sort | Abdelaziz Brouthen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study describes the results of a series of 2D finite element method (FEM) numerical models of 6 m high back-to-back reinforced soil walls using the geotechnical software PLAXIS. These structures are used to support embankments, especially for bridge abutment approaches. The quantitative influence of problem geometry, strip pre-tensioning, strip type, and surcharging on horizontal displacements, development of soil shear and plastic zones, lateral earth pressure, and reinforcement loads is presented. The numerical results demonstrate how this type of reinforced soil walls perform jointly at a certain distance of interaction between the two opposite walls. The walls of the two opposing sides clearly interact with each other when they are close enough and with an overlapping reinforcement layout. Pre-tensioning load can contribute to achieving vertical wall-facing alignment at the end of construction. Using perforated/holed strips, the tensile loads at the end of construction were reduced by about 30% due to the improved polymeric–soil interface strength and stiffness. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T21:43:24Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-bc75e9bcd3a340cfbec25c6b7a21ba95 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2412-3811 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T21:43:24Z |
| publishDate | 2022-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Infrastructures |
| spelling | doaj.art-bc75e9bcd3a340cfbec25c6b7a21ba952023-11-23T20:26:03ZengMDPI AGInfrastructures2412-38112022-02-01722210.3390/infrastructures7020022Numerical Study of the Influence of the Interaction Distance, the Polymeric Strips Pre-Tensioning, and the Soil–Polymeric Interaction on the Performance of Back-to-Back Reinforced Soil WallsAbdelaziz Brouthen0Mohamed Nabil Houhou1Ivan Puig Damians2MN2I2S Laboratory, Civil Engineering and Hydraulic Department, Biskra University, BP 145, Biskra 07000, AlgeriaMN2I2S Laboratory, Civil Engineering and Hydraulic Department, Biskra University, BP 145, Biskra 07000, AlgeriaDepartment of Civil and Environmental Engineering (DECA), School of Civil Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya-BarcelonaTech (UPC), Jordi Girona 1-3, 08034 Barcelona, SpainThis study describes the results of a series of 2D finite element method (FEM) numerical models of 6 m high back-to-back reinforced soil walls using the geotechnical software PLAXIS. These structures are used to support embankments, especially for bridge abutment approaches. The quantitative influence of problem geometry, strip pre-tensioning, strip type, and surcharging on horizontal displacements, development of soil shear and plastic zones, lateral earth pressure, and reinforcement loads is presented. The numerical results demonstrate how this type of reinforced soil walls perform jointly at a certain distance of interaction between the two opposite walls. The walls of the two opposing sides clearly interact with each other when they are close enough and with an overlapping reinforcement layout. Pre-tensioning load can contribute to achieving vertical wall-facing alignment at the end of construction. Using perforated/holed strips, the tensile loads at the end of construction were reduced by about 30% due to the improved polymeric–soil interface strength and stiffness.https://www.mdpi.com/2412-3811/7/2/22back-to-back wallsreinforced soil wallssoil–polymeric interactionpolymeric stripnumerical modeling |
| spellingShingle | Abdelaziz Brouthen Mohamed Nabil Houhou Ivan Puig Damians Numerical Study of the Influence of the Interaction Distance, the Polymeric Strips Pre-Tensioning, and the Soil–Polymeric Interaction on the Performance of Back-to-Back Reinforced Soil Walls Infrastructures back-to-back walls reinforced soil walls soil–polymeric interaction polymeric strip numerical modeling |
| title | Numerical Study of the Influence of the Interaction Distance, the Polymeric Strips Pre-Tensioning, and the Soil–Polymeric Interaction on the Performance of Back-to-Back Reinforced Soil Walls |
| title_full | Numerical Study of the Influence of the Interaction Distance, the Polymeric Strips Pre-Tensioning, and the Soil–Polymeric Interaction on the Performance of Back-to-Back Reinforced Soil Walls |
| title_fullStr | Numerical Study of the Influence of the Interaction Distance, the Polymeric Strips Pre-Tensioning, and the Soil–Polymeric Interaction on the Performance of Back-to-Back Reinforced Soil Walls |
| title_full_unstemmed | Numerical Study of the Influence of the Interaction Distance, the Polymeric Strips Pre-Tensioning, and the Soil–Polymeric Interaction on the Performance of Back-to-Back Reinforced Soil Walls |
| title_short | Numerical Study of the Influence of the Interaction Distance, the Polymeric Strips Pre-Tensioning, and the Soil–Polymeric Interaction on the Performance of Back-to-Back Reinforced Soil Walls |
| title_sort | numerical study of the influence of the interaction distance the polymeric strips pre tensioning and the soil polymeric interaction on the performance of back to back reinforced soil walls |
| topic | back-to-back walls reinforced soil walls soil–polymeric interaction polymeric strip numerical modeling |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2412-3811/7/2/22 |
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