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Abstract In order to develop a rational numerical method for simulating the bearing capacity and progressive failure on reinforced-sand retaining walls and to gain a better insight into their associated reinforcing mechanisms，a set of model experimental results from well-controlled fully-instrumented load model tests of reinforced sand retaining wall are simulated by using of a nonlinear elasto-plastic finite element model considering strain localization. This constitutive model for sand is developed on the modified plastic strain energy concept. A strain localization parameter S is introduced in the constitutive model to describe the effect of shear banding after the peak strength of sandy element. It is found that the load-settlement relationships obtained from finite element method(FEM) analysis are generally in good agreement with those from the physical experimental results. The reinforcing mechanism and the progressive failure with developments of shear bands in reinforced sandy ground are also reasonably simulated by the proposed FEM analysis.
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Received: 24 August 2010
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2011, Vol. 30 
