文档介绍：Computers and Geotechnics 17 (1995) 523-546
0 1995 Elsevier Science Limited
Printed in Great Britain. All rights reserved
0266-352X/951$
ELSFVIER
SEISMIC RESPONSE ANALYSIS OF GEOSYNTHETIC REINFORCED SOIL
SEGMENTAL RETAINING WALLS BY FINITE ELEMENT METHOD
Zhenqi CAI and Richard J. BATHURST
Department of Civil Engineering, Royal Military College of Canada, Kingston, Ontario,
Canada K7K 5LO
ABSTRACT
The paper presents the results of a finite element analysis of the dynamic response of a
geosynthetic reinforced soil retaining wall that is constructed with dry-stacked modular
concrete blocks as the facia system. In the finite element model, the cyclic shear behavior of
the backfill soil is described by a hyperbolic stress-strain relationship with Masing hysteretic
unload-reload behavior. The reinforcement material is modelled using a similar hysteretic
model which takes into account the measured response of cyclic load-extension tests
performed on unconfined geogrid specimens in the laboratory. Interface shear between wall
components is simulated using slip elements. The results of finite element analyses giving the
seismic response of a typical geogrid reinforced segmental retaining wall subjected to
prescribed acceleration records are presented. The results of analyses highlight the influence
of dynamic loading on: (1) wall displacement; (2) cumulative interface shear force and
displacement between facing units; (3) tensile forces developed in the reinforcement and; (4)
acceleration response over the height of the wall. A number of implications to the design of
these structures are identified based on the results of these simulations.
INTRODUCTION
The use of segmental retainingwalls that consist of a column of discrete concrete block units
as the facia system together with geosynthetics to anchor the facia and reinforce the retained
soils has gained popularity in Europe and North America in recent