Rigid Block Distinct-Element Modeling of Dry-Stone Retaining Walls in Plane Strain
Publication: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 131, Issue 3
Abstract
A simplified rigid block distinct-element numerical model is used to investigate the instability of dry-stone masonry retaining walls in plane strain. The investigation initially concentrates on modeling previously reported experimental data of wall behavior and thereafter assesses the influence of parametric variation on stability. Influence of masonry characteristics (wall joint shear stiffness, normal stiffness, tensile strength, and block geometry), backfill properties, and overall wall geometry are considered. Results from the experimental study and numerical model are compared with a limit equilibrium analysis.
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Acknowledgments
The writers would like to acknowledge the support of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (GR/M31477), Gloucestershire County Council, Somerset County Council, and Wiltshire County Council for financing this work. In addition, they also thank colleagues at Southampton University for their advice and support.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 131 • Issue 3 • March 2005
Pages: 381 - 389
Copyright
© 2005 ASCE.
History
Received: Jan 8, 2003
Accepted: Apr 7, 2004
Published online: Mar 1, 2005
Published in print: Mar 2005
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