Numerical Studies on Safeguarding of Cantilever Retaining Structures by Sustainable Backfilling Materials

Abstract

Three-dimensional finite element investigations have been carried out to study the response of retaining structures against lateral earth pressure due to various backfilling materials in order to understand the efficiency of backfilling materials. The behavior of reinforced concrete wall against different backfill soil materials such as sandy soil, clay soil, varying percentage of copper slag along with clay soil and shredded tyre were studied. The elastic behavior of concrete, steel reinforcement bar, sandy soil, clay soil, copper slag, and shredded tyre has been incorporated through elastic model. The behaviors of concrete and backfill material were modeled using suitable material parameters available in literature and identified through detailed literature. The behavior of each element of the wall, i.e., stem, heel, toe, and the shear key against varying sustainable backfill was studied in detail. The lateral displacement, vertical settlement, and stresses developed in each component of the retaining wall were studied and finally the suitable backfill material was identified.