2026-04-13T00:09:46Zhttps://recercat.cat/oai/request
oai:recercat.cat:2117/3359512026-01-14T05:32:31Zcom_2072_1033col_2072_452950
RECERCAT author Puig Damians, Ivan author Bathurst, Richard author Olivella Pastallé, Sebastià author Lloret Morancho, Antonio author Josa Garcia-Tornel, Alejandro 2021-03 The final publication is available at Springer via http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11440-020-01057-wThis paper reports the results of 3D numerical modelling of a 6-m-high mechanically stabilised earth (MSE) wall constructed with concrete panels and steel or polymeric strip reinforcement. These systems pose numerical challenges as a result of the discontinuous reinforcement arrangement which is not the case for MSE walls constructed with continuous reinforcement layer configurations. Details of the numerical approach including modelling of the reinforcement strips, concrete facing panels and compressible bearing pads between panels are described. Examples of numerical predictions for facing deformations, toe loads due to soil down-drag behind the panels, soil and reinforcement settlements, and reinforcement tensile loads are presented. The influence of reinforcement stiffness is demonstrated by comparing numerical predictions for the same MSE wall with relatively inextensible steel strips and with relatively extensible polymeric strips. Of particular interest are the results showing the disruption of earth pressures along vertical and horizontal planes in the reinforced soil zone as a result of the discontinuous strip inclusions, and the vertical load that accumulates on the reinforcement strips close to the connections due to soil settlement behind the facing. The details of the modelling approach used here and the lessons learned provide a benchmark for future similar lines of investigation and for practitioners, particularly as the computational power of desktop computers continues to increase.The authors wish to acknowledge the support of the International Center for Numerical Methods in Engineering (CIMNE) and the funding received from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness through the ‘‘Severo Ochoa Programme for Centres of Excellence in R&D’’ (CEX2018-000797-S), and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) (Grant Number: 94344-2013).Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft) Open Access Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Enginyeria civil::Geotècnia Retaining walls--Design and construction 3D modelling Finite element modelling Mechanically stabilised earth (MSE) walls Polymeric strip reinforcement Soil retaining walls Steel strip reinforcement Murs de contenció -- Disseny i construcció 3D modelling of strip reinforced MSE walls Article