• Journal of the Korean Geosynthetics Society
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.97-107
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• 2014

Finite element modelling and analysis were conducted for the roll-type steel mats which were placed on loose sand and subjected to a standard truck wheel load in this study. The roll-type steel mats mean that the steel mats can be folded as a circle shape for the carrying to fields in cold regions where workability is limited and are developed for a rapid rehabilitation method for roadway across soft ground which is caused by thawing during the summer season in cold regions. The model is composed of link elements to simulate nonlinear behavior of connections between steel mats, thick shell elements to have flexural stiffness of the steel mats, and springs to simulate characteristics of foundation soils. The structural behaviors of the shell, link elements, and springs were verified at each modelling step through experiment and analysis. Beam and shell analysis without the link elements were conducted and compared to results obtained from the model presented in this study. Significant vertical displacement is shown in the shell model with hinge connections. Therefore, the results demonstrate that the analysis model for the roll-type steel mats on loose sand needs further detail parametric studies.