Browse > Article
http://dx.doi.org/10.12989/gae.2016.10.6.757

Finite element analysis of a CFRP reinforced retaining wall  

Ouria, Ahad (Department of Civil Engineering, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili)
Toufigh, Vahab (Department of Civil Engineering, Sharif University of Technology)
Desai, Chandrakant (Department of Civil Engineering, Graduate University of Advanced Technology)
Toufigh, Vahid (Department of Civil Engineering, Graduate University of Advanced Technology)
Saadatmanesh, Hamid (Department of Civil Engineering and Engineering Mechanics, University of Arizona)
Publication Information
Geomechanics and Engineering / v.10, no.6, 2016 , pp. 757-774 More about this Journal
Abstract
Soils are usually weak in tension therefore different materials such as geosynthetics are used to address this inadequacy. Worldwide annual consumption of geosynthetics is close to $1000million\;m^2$, and the value of these materials is probably close to US$1500 million. Since the total cost of the construction is at least four or five times the cost of the geosynthetic itself, the impact of these materials on civil engineering construction is very large indeed. Nevertheless, there are several significant problems associated with geosynthetics, such as creep, low modulus of elasticity, and susceptibility to aggressive environment. Carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) was introduced over two decades ago in the field of structural engineering that can also be used in geotechnical engineering. CFRP has all the benefits associated with geosynthetics and it boasts higher strength, higher modulus, no significant creep and reliability in aggressive environments. In this paper, the performance of a CFRP reinforced retaining wall is investigated using the finite element method. Since the characterization of behavior of soils and interfaces are vital for reliable prediction from the numerical model, soil and interface properties are obtained from comprehensive laboratory tests. Based on the laboratory results for CFRP, backfill soil, and interface data, the finite element model is used to study the behavior of a CFRP reinforced wall. The finite element model was verified based on the results of filed measurements for a reference wall. Then the reference wall simulated by CFRP reinforcements and the results. The results of this investigations showed that the safety factor of CFRP reinforced wall is more and its deformations is less than those for a retaining wall reinforced with ordinary geosynthetics while their construction costs are in similar range.
Keywords
CFRP; mechanically stabilized earth wall; finite element method; plasticity model;
Citations & Related Records
연도 인용수 순위
  • Reference
1 Adib, M.E., Mitchell, J.K. and Christopher, B.R. (1990), "Finite element modeling of reinforced soil walls", Proceeding Design and Performance of Earth Retaining Structures, ASCE Geotechnical Special Publication (P.C. Lamb and E. Hansen Eds.), No. 25, pp. 209-423.
2 ASTM D2487-11 (2011), Standard Practice for Classification of Soils for Engineering Purposes (Unified Soil Classification System), ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA, USA.
3 ASTM D3080 (2004), Standard Test Method for Direct Shear Test of Soils under Consolidated Drained Conditions, Annual Book of ASTM Standards, ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA, USA.
4 Bathurst, R.J., Karpurapu, R. and Jaret, P.M. (1992), "Finite element analysis of a geogrid reinforced soil wall", Proceeding Grouting, Soil Improvement and Geosynthetics, ASCE Geotechnical Special Publication (R.H. Botden, R.D. Hohz and I. Juran Eds.), 30(2), 1213-1224.
5 Berg, R.R., Bonaparte, R., Anderson, R.P. and Chouery, V.E. (1986), "Design, construction, and performance of two reinforced soil retaining walls", Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Geotextile, Vienna, Austria, April, Volume 2, pp. 401-406.
6 Berg, R.R., Christopher, B.R. and Samtani, N.C. (2009), "Design and construction of mechanically stabilized earth walls and reinforced soil slopes", U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration, Vols. 1 & 2; Publication No. FHWA-NHI-10-024.
7 Budhu, M. (2008), Foundations and Earth Retaining Structures, John Wiley & Sons, NY, USA.
8 Chew, S.H., Schmertman, G.R. and Mitchell, J.K. (1990), "Reinforced soil wall deformations by finite element method", Proceeding International Reinforced Soil Conference - Performance of Reinforced Soil Structures (K.Z. Andrawes and A. McGown Eds.), Thomas Telford, Glasgow, Scotland, September, pp. 34-40.
9 Desai, C.S. and El-Hoseiny, K.E. (2005), "Prediction of field behavior of reinforced soil wall using advanced constitutive model", J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng., 131(6), 729-739.   DOI
10 Desai, C.S. and Rigby, D.B. (1997), "Cyclic interface and joint shear device including pore pressure effects", J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng., 123(6), 568-579.   DOI
11 El-Hoseiny, K.E. (1999), "Analysis of field Tensar retained wall with DSC model and FEM", Ph.D. Dissertation; Department of Civil Engineering and Engineering Mechanics, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.
12 Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) (1989), Tensar geogrid-reinforced soil wall, Experimental Project No. 1; Ground Modification Systems, FHWA-EP-90-001-005, Washington, D.C., USA.
13 Fishman, K.L. and Desai, C.S. (1991), "Response of a geogrid earth reinforced retaining wall with full height precast concrete facing", Proceedings Geosynthetics 91, Atlanta, GA, USA, February, pp. 691-700.
14 Gray, D.H. and Ohashi, H. (1983), "Mechanics of bar reinforcement in sand", J. Geotech. Eng. ASCE, 109(3), 335-353.   DOI
15 Janbu, J. (1963), "Soil compressibility as determined by Oedometer and Triaxial test", Proceeding ECSMFE Wiesbaden, Volume 1, pp. 19-25.
16 Pal, S. (1997), "Numerical simulation of geosynthetic reinforced earth structures using finite element method", Ph.D. Dissertation; Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA.
17 PLAXIAS b v (2006), Plaxis V8 manual, PLAXIAS b. v, Delft, Netherland.
18 Retaining Wall (2012), Wikipedia, Retrieved: March 21, 2012 3:06:10 PM. See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retaining_wall
19 Rowe, R.K. and Ho, S.K. (1992), "A review of the behavior of reinforced soil walls", Preprint, Special and Keynote Lecture; Proceedings of the International Symposium on Earth Reinforcement Practice, (A.A. Balkema and Rotterdam), pp. 47-76.
20 Saadatmanesh, H., Tavakkolizadeh, M. and Mostofinejad, D. (2010), "Environmental effects on mechanical properties of wet lay-up fiber-reinforced polymer", ACI Mater. J., 107(3), 267-274.
21 Schanz, T. (1998), "Zur Modellierung des mechanischen verhaltens von reibungsmaterialen, habilitation" Stuttgart Universitat, Stuttgart, Germany.
22 Seed, R.B., Collin, J.G. and Mitchell, J.K. (1986), "FEM analysis of compacted reinforced soil walls", Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Numerical Models in Geomechanics, (G.N. Pande, W.F. Van Impe, E.M. Jackson and Son Publisher Redruth), Cornwall, England, March-April, pp. 553-562.
23 Toufigh, V. (2012), "Experimental and analytical studies of Geo-Composite applications in soil reinforcement", Ph.D. Dissertation; Department of Civil Engineering and Engineering Mechanics, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.
24 Vidal, H. (1960), "The development and future of reinforced earth", Keynote Address; Symposium on Earth Reinforcement, ASCE Annual Convention, Pittsburgh, PA, USA, April.
25 Wu, J.T.H. (1992), "Predicting performance of the Denver walls: General reported", In: Geosynthetic-Reinforced Soil Retaining Walls, A.A. Balkema, pp. 3-20.