Influence of Selection of Soil and Interface Properties on Numerical Results of Two Soil–Geosynthetic Interaction Problems
Publication: International Journal of Geomechanics
Volume 17, Issue 6
Abstract
Numerical modelers are often faced with the challenge to numerically reproduce the physical behavior of soil–geosynthetic interaction problems using assumed values for missing soil and interface model parameters. This paper examines two such examples using the finite-difference method, (1) horizontal pullout of a geosynthetic (geogrid) reinforcement layer in a pullout box and (2) a geosynthetic (geotextile)-reinforced soil layer over a void. It also presents the results of parametric sensitivity analyses for the missing soil and interface model parameter values and identifies the values that give the best agreement with measured data. The paper further demonstrates that correct modeling of geometrical nonlinearity is key to accurately predicting the performance of geosynthetic-reinforced soil systems controlled by the tensioned membrane effect. The lessons learned in this study will be of interest to numerical modelers during numerical model design of geosynthetic-reinforced soil systems.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Acknowledgments
The work reported in this paper was supported by a grant from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC).
References
AASHTO. (2014). LRFD bridge design specifications, 7th Ed., Washington, DC.
Alam, M. J. I., Lo, S. R., and Karim, M. R. (2014). “Pull-out behaviour of steel grid soil reinforcement embedded in silty sand.” Comput. Geotech., 56, 216–226.
Allen, T., and Bathurst, R. (2014a). “Design and performance of 6.3-m high block-faced geogrid wall designed using the K-stiffness method.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng., 04013016.
Allen, T. M., and Bathurst, R. J. (2014b). “Performance of an 11 m high block-faced geogrid wall designed using the K-stiffness method.” Can. Geotech. J., 51(1), 16–29.
Bathurst, R. J., and Ezzein, F. M. (2016). “Geogrid pullout load–strain behaviour and modelling using a transparent granular soil.” Geosynth. Int., 23(4), 271–286.
Benmebarek, S., Berrabah, F., and Benmebarek, N. (2015). “Effect of geosynthetic reinforced embankment on locally weak zones by numerical approach.” Comput. Geotech., 65, 115–125.
Blanc, M., Thorel, L., Girout, R., and Almeida, M. (2014). “Geosynthetic reinforcement of a granular load transfer platform above rigid inclusions: Comparison between centrifuge testing and analytical modelling.” Geosynth. Int., 21(1), 37–52.
Briançon, L., Nancey, A., and Villard, P. (2005). “Development of Geodetect: A new warning system for the survey of reinforced earth constructions.” Stud. Geotech. Mech., 27, 21–32.
Briançon, L., and Villard, P. (2008). “Design of geosynthetic-reinforced platforms spanning localized sinkholes.” Geotext. Geomembr., 26(5), 416–428.
Bridle, R. J., and Jenner, C. G. (1997). “Polymer geogrids for bridging mining voids.” Geosynth. Int., 4(1), 33–50.
BSI (British Standards Institution). (2016). “Code of practice for strengthened/reinforced soil and other fills.” BS8006, London.
Budhu, M. (2010). Soil mechanics and foundations, 3rd Ed., Wiley, Hoboken, NJ.
Cao, W. Z., Zheng, J. J., Zhang, J., and Zhang, R. J. (2016). “Field test of a geogrid reinforced and floating pile-supported embankment.” Geosynth. Int., 23(5), 348–361.
Damians, I. Bathurst, R., Josa, A., and Lloret, A. (2015). “Numerical analysis of an instrumented steel reinforced soil wall.” Int. J. Geomech., 04014037.
Ezzein, F., and Bathurst, R. J. (2014). “A new approach to evaluate soil-geosynthetic interaction using a novel pullout test apparatus and transparent granular soil.” Geotext. Geomembr., 42(3), 246–255.
Ezzein, F., Bathurst, R. J., and Kongkitkul, W. (2015). “Non-linear load-strain modeling of polypropylene geogrids during constant rate-of-strain loading.” Polym. Eng. Sci., 55(7), 1617–1627.
Fannin, R. J., and Raju, D. M. (1993). “On the pullout resistance of geosynthetics.” Can. Geotech. J., 30(3), 409–417.
Feng, S. J., and Lu, S. F. (2015). “Deformation analysis of a geosynthetic material subjected to two adjacent voids.” Geotext. Geomembr., 43(4), 317–331.
FLAC [Computer software]. Itasca Consulting Group, Inc., Minneapolis.
Galve, J. P., Gutiérrez, F., Guerrero, J., Alonso, J., and Diego, I. (2012). “Optimizing the application of geosynthetics to roads in sinkhole-prone areas on the basis of hazard models and cost-benefit analyses.” Geotext. Geomembr., 34, 80–92.
Giroud, J. P., Bonaparte, R., Beech, J. F., and Gross, B. A. (1990). “Design of soil layer-geosynthetic systems overlying voids.” Geotext. Geomembr., 9(1), 11–50.
Huang, B., and Bathurst, R. J. (2009). “Evaluation of soil-geogrid pullout models using a statistical approach.” Geotech. Test. J., 32(6), 489–504.
Itasca. (2011). FLAC: Fast Lagrangian analysis of continua 7.0 user’s manual, Itasca Consulting Group, Inc., Minneapolis.
Jones, C. J. F. P., and Cooper, A. H. (2005). “Road construction over voids caused by active gypsum dissolution, with an example from Ripon, North Yorkshire, England.” Environ. Geol., 48(3), 384–394.
Karpurapu, R. G., and Bathurst, R. J. (1995). “Behaviour of geosynthetic reinforced soil retaining walls using the finite element method.” Comput. Geotech., 17(3), 279–299.
Kongkitkul, W., Chantachot, T., and Tatsuoka, F. (2014). “Simulation of geosynthetic load–strain–time behaviour by the non-linear three-component model.” Geosynth. Int., 21(4), 244–255.
Kulhawy, F. H., and Mayne, P. W. (1990). “Manual on estimating soil properties for foundation design.” Rep. EL-6800, Electric Power Research Institute, Palo Alto, CA.
Moraci, N., and Recalcati, P. (2006). “Factors affecting the pullout behavior of extruded geogrids embedded in a compacted granular soil.” Geotext. Geomembr., 24(4), 220–242.
Ochiai, H., Otani, J., Hayashic, S., and Hirai, T. (1996). “The pull-out resistance of geogrids in reinforced soil.” Geotext. Geomembr., 14(1), 19–42.
Perkins, S. W., and Edens, M. Q. (2003). “Finite element modeling of a geosynthetic pullout test.” Geotech. Geol. Eng., 21, 357–375.
Ponomaryov, A., and Zolotozubov, D. (2014). “Several approaches for the design of reinforced bases on karst areas.” Geotext. Geomembr., 42(1), 48–51.
Rousé, P. C., Fannin, R. J., and Taiebat, M. (2014). “Sand strength for back-analysis of pull-out tests at large displacement.” Géotechnique, 64(4), 320–324.
Rowe, R. K., and Skinner, G. D. (2001). “Numerical analysis of geosynthetic reinforced retaining wall constructed on a layered soil foundation.” Geotext. Geomembr., 19(7), 387–412.
Villard, P., and Briançon, L. (2008). “Design of geosynthetic reinforcements for platforms subjected to localized sinkholes.” Can. Geotech. J., 45(2), 196–209.
Villard, P., Chevalier, B., Le Hello, B., and Combe, G. (2009). “Coupling between finite and discrete element methods for the modelling of earth structures reinforced by geosynthetic.” Comput. Geotech., 36(5), 709–717.
Villard, P., Gourc, J. P., and Giraud, H. (2000). “A geosynthetic reinforcement solution to prevent the formation of localized sinkholes.” Can. Geotech. J., 37(5), 987–999.
Walters, D. L., Allen, T. M., and Bathurst, R. J. (2002). “Conversion of geosynthetic strain to load using reinforcement stiffness.” Geosynth. Int., 9(5–6), 483–523.
Wang, F., Han, J., Miao, L. C., and Bhandari, A. (2009). “Numerical analysis of geosynthetic bridged and drilled shafts-supported embankments over large sinkholes.” Geosynth. Int., 16(6), 408–419.
Wang, M. C., Feng, Y. X., and Jao, M. (1996). “Stability of geosynthetic-reinforced soil above a cavity.” Geotext. Geomembr., 14(2), 95–109.
Wilson-Fahmy, R. F., and Koerner, R. M. (1993). “Finite element modelling of soil-geogrid interaction with application to the behavior of geogrids in a pullout loading condition.” Geotext. Geomembr., 12(5), 479–501.
Xu, C., Song, S., and Han, J. (2016). “Scaled model tests on influence factors of full geosynthetic-reinforced pile-supported embankments.” Geosynth. Int., 23(2), 140–153.
Yogarajah, I., and Yeo, K. C. (1994). “Finite element modelling of pullout tests with load and strain measurements.” Geotext. Geomembr., 13(1), 43–54.
Yu, Y., Bathurst, R., and Allen, T. (2016a). “Numerical modelling of the SR-18 geogrid reinforced modular block retaining walls.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng., 04016003.
Yu, Y., Bathurst, R. J., Allen, T. M., and Nelson, R. (2016b). “Physical and numerical modelling of a geogrid reinforced incremental concrete panel retaining wall.” Can. Geotech. J., in press.
Yu, Y., Bathurst, R. J., and Damians, I. P. (2016c). “Modified unit cell approach for modelling geosynthetic-reinforced column-supported embankments.” Geotext. Geomembr., 44(3), 332–343.
Yu, Y., Bathurst, R. J., and Miyata, Y. (2015a). “Numerical analysis of a mechanically stabilized earth wall reinforced with steel strips.” Soils Found., 55(3), 536–547.
Yu, Y., Damians, I. P., and Bathurst, R. J. (2015b). “Influence of choice of FLAC and PLAXIS interface models on reinforced soil-structure interactions.” Comput. Geotech., 65, 164–174.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
International Journal of Geomechanics
Volume 17 • Issue 6 • June 2017
Copyright
© 2016 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: May 6, 2016
Accepted: Sep 21, 2016
Published online: Nov 8, 2016
Discussion open until: Apr 8, 2017
Published in print: Jun 1, 2017
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.